After a last-minute breakthrough, Teachers at Malvern House London have called off their planned week of strike action. The dispute has not been formally resolved, but management have agreed to a financial settlement while the text of a union recognition agreement is finalised.
Teachers at Malvern House London have been in a dispute with their employer since August of this year, focused around unpaid working time, zero-hours contracts, and the reinstatement of a colleague.
In the course of the dispute, the teachers have so far taken four days of strike action and were preparing to take a week of strike action commencing on 24th November.
According to Tom Liebewitz, the lead organiser for the TEFL Workers’ Union:
“This really came down to the wire. The teachers get full credit for holding their nerve, staying united, and being prepared to take sustained strike action. The negotiating ability of staff reps also played no small part in getting us to this point.”
The union and the company will re-commence negotiation in the coming weeks. In the interim, the union would like to thank everyone who came to the picket lines, donated to the teachers’ hardship fund, and offered support and solidarity in countless other ways.
Work in a language school? Don’t think you’re getting everything you deserve? It’s tefl@iww.org.uk to speak to an organiser.
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