The Unite union, which represents workers in fast food, cinemas, call centres and other areas not covered by traditional unions, has launched a Facebook campaign to reinstate sacked language school teacher Pat Bidois, a union delegate at the St. George Language School in central Auckland who allegedly lost her job for questioning why a position within the company was filled without first being advertised internally to existing staff. The Facebook page claims “Management have been trying to get rid of Pat for years as she is an effective and passionate defender of workers rights on her site.”
'An excellent teacher'
In a video posted to Youtube by Unite's campaign organiser Joe Carolan organiser John Minto spoke to a class of St. George's students telling them Pat was sacked after her question “embarrassed” one of the school's managers. Bidois had apologised for causing embarrassment but not for questioning the school's policy. Minto described her as an excellent teacher who was well regarded amongst Auckland language schools. He requested that students email the owner of the school saying that they want Bidois to return as their teacher. Minto described the sacking as “wrong” and “unfair” and believed the union would be successful if the case was taken to the employment court.
Lei Jin translated Minto's speech to the class of native Chinese speakers, at which point St. George's principal Kevin Moncur who had been present throughout the speech interrupted and accused Minto of lying, before referring to him as a “truly pathetic individual.” In a second video clip Minto reiterates his message to the students before Moncur tells him they don't have time for his “propaganda” and the two Unite staff members leave the class room.
Union organising at language schools
Unite has a presence at about a dozen different New Zealand language schools, a collective agreement has existed between Unite and St. George's since 2009. The Facebook page in support of Bidios has 54 members at the time of writing, Members have left encouraging comments for her and described he sacking in terms such as “disgusting” and “desgraceful” (sic). One commenter suggested that “Maybe Kevin should learn some Chinese if he going to get paranoid about what home truths people say to his students.” According to John Minto if she is not reinstated Bidios could be out of work for as long as eight months as the case goes through the employment court.
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