Teachers: We are getting close to contract renewal time

Teachers: We are getting close to contract renewal time
Apr 5, 2008 05:37
APAULT Points: Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Status: offline	Many of us will be invited to renew contracts around this time. I would like to make some comments. I would suggest that you ask for a significant pay rise for the following reasons. 1. The current annual rate of inflation is approacjhing 7.5% and is not likely to slow much with world food and fuel prices increases showing no signs of slowing. 2. It is normal practice in most countries to pay a premium for staff that you want to keep. Not paying such a premium is saying that they would prefer you to look elsewhere (unless the business is having problems). 3. By staying, you are saving the institution the fees and staff costs for recruiting replacement staff. 4. By staying, you provide continuity and stability for the students, and you are 'not a risk' in the sense that a new person is an unknown quantity. 5 From the perspective of a market economy, the game which China is joining with vigour, we are substantially underpaid. a. There is a massive shortage of foreign teachers in China, which is not going to reduce. b. Institutions have relied on finding people who are interested in coming to China for reasons other than money - this was fine when China was a new toy, but it is no longer valid. c. Education is an investment no different from physical infrastructure and needs to be paid for. d. The private schools and colleges are making massive profits at can afford to pay - not only afford to pay but need to pay to ensure they get foreign teachers, as we are an essential component of their marketing. e Public schools and colleges are funded by governments which have massive of reserves. These institutions try to get away with low salaries 'because they are constrained by government'. 6. Even without considering the supply shortage, no qualified teacher should even consider taking a job for less than 5000rmb a month, plus full return airfare (not nominal sums that some offer) and full pay through all holidays, etc for the full 10 month contract. 7. You can also look at removing or improving some of those restrictive clauses in the contract. At the very least you should go into negotiations with the above arguments, and ensure they undertsand you will look for a job elsewhere of leave China if your requirements are not met. Last year I was offered 4800 by a Normal uni. I was earning more than that the previous year in a lower cost city and there had been inflation to take into account.. They begrudgingly raised the offer to 5000 with the defence that that's all the government permitted. Naturally I rejected their offer. It was easy to find an alternative job in a private college at 7000 rmb. They sought 4 teachers but could only recruit 2. If I am not offered a substantial increase for next year, I will go elsewhere. We are teachers, and it seems our first task is to teach the fundamentals of supply and demand! Good luck...and I hope we will hear later how people get on.

Apr 5, 2008 05:37

APAULT
Points:
Join Date: Mar 11, 2006
Status: offline

Many of us will be invited to renew contracts around this time. I would like to make some comments.

I would suggest that you ask for a significant pay rise for the following reasons.
1. The current annual rate of inflation is approacjhing 7.5% and is not likely to slow much with world food and fuel prices increases showing no signs of slowing.
2. It is normal practice in most countries to pay a premium for staff that you want to keep. Not paying such a premium is saying that they would prefer you to look elsewhere (unless the business is having problems).
3. By staying, you are saving the institution the fees and staff costs for recruiting replacement staff.
4. By staying, you provide continuity and stability for the students, and you are 'not a risk' in the sense that a new person is an unknown quantity.
5 From the perspective of a market economy, the game which China is joining with vigour, we are substantially underpaid.
a. There is a massive shortage of foreign teachers in China, which is not going to reduce.
b. Institutions have relied on finding people who are interested in coming to China for reasons other than money - this was fine when China was a new toy, but it is no longer valid.
c. Education is an investment no different from physical infrastructure and needs to be paid for.
d. The private schools and colleges are making massive profits at can afford to pay - not only afford to pay but need to pay to ensure they get foreign teachers, as we are an essential component of their marketing.
e Public schools and colleges are funded by governments which have massive of reserves. These institutions try to get away with low salaries 'because they are constrained by government'.
6. Even without considering the supply shortage, no qualified teacher should even consider taking a job for less than 5000rmb a month, plus full return airfare (not nominal sums that some offer) and full pay through all holidays, etc for the full 10 month contract.
7. You can also look at removing or improving some of those restrictive clauses in the contract.

At the very least you should go into negotiations with the above arguments, and ensure they undertsand you will look for a job elsewhere of leave China if your requirements are not met.

Last year I was offered 4800 by a Normal uni. I was earning more than that the previous year in a lower cost city and there had been inflation to take into account.. They begrudgingly raised the offer to 5000 with the defence that that's all the government permitted. Naturally I rejected their offer. It was easy to find an alternative job in a private college at 7000 rmb. They sought 4 teachers but could only recruit 2. If I am not offered a substantial increase for next year, I will go elsewhere.

We are teachers, and it seems our first task is to teach the fundamentals of supply and demand! Good luck...and I hope we will hear later how people get on.

Apr 5, 2008 15:01

GRIZ326
Points:
Join Date: Jun 12, 2006
Status: Offline

You are such a rabble rouser, Paul. You could be a union leader :-)

When I return to China to teach in the 2009-2010 school year, I will return with recommendations from VPs & Directors of several companies. I am thinking along the lines of 10000 RMB a month or 1500 USD if the exchange rate is 6.5:1 then. Obviously, this leaves wiggle room for negotiating, but the students who get me to teach them English will benefit from my years of specialized instruction so I think some school will believe that I am worth the premium.

...or is that just a pipe dream, Paul :-)

Apr 6, 2008 22:35

MARRIE
Points:
Join Date: Jan 7, 2008
Status: Offline

Paul. Let the school board know what market force is, 7000rmb is the bottom line. You guys should fight for 10,000 – 15,000 yuan. BTW, do school board provide other benefits like insurance, accommodation fees, transportation fees, etc. I am asking this because I heard my cousin who works with a US small auditing firm as a junior earns 7000rmb benefits inclusive and get free training and free travelling in 8 US cities recently. So as spreaders of knowledge, professors value is underestimated by 7000rmb/per mo!

Apr 7, 2008 10:21

APAULT
Points:
Join Date: Mar 11, 2006
Status: Offline

I wouldn't use the term 'rabble rouser' Griz, but I have done my time in the labour side of politics (probably no surprisse to you). I simply believe that the situation in China has changed. In the early days people came out of interest and were happy to enjoy the cultural aspects. But as I said, China is now well and truly in the market economy and many businesses are blatantly exploiting their workers - which I find especially sad in a nation hich professes to be socialist. So in the circumstances we should look after our own interests. As I believe I said in another thread, we were not notified in this college that last Friday was a national holiday - students happened to mention it on Thursday. On taking the matter up with them today, they cannot see why we are upset!!! It's the mushroom syndrome!! (for the non-expats who are reading it means they heap on shit and keep us in the dark).

I think you will find it hard to get 10,000 unless you have special skills. If you can teach other than English, you can expect those salaries or higher, but there are not many such jobs. I think you must go for private colleges and try to negotiate waht you and I would call a full time job. Quite honestly, local uni teachers have it soft, the standard is 16 X 45 min classes a week. Usually that is just 1 or two lessons to prepare. To you or I it's a part time job. In this college the usual teaching is from about 8 to 4 with a 2.5 hour lunch break (don't expect to contact anyone in that period). Don't think they want your specialised skills, they are frightened of change, no-one will accept change unless it comes from the top. Be prepared from brought out of the closet heads of department who say you mustn't hand in lesson plans from a printer. I would say 8000 is possible, plus package of course.

Marrie.... it is a slow process, most of them haven't worked out the concept of market forces yet. Unfortunately there aren't really school boards in the sense we know the in other countries, there are 'rules'. However in the private unis, there is more flexibility especially when term has started and they don't have any teachers :) Most provide accommodation, but the standard varies, usually ok. They are legally required to provide accident insurance, and there is uncertainty whether health insurance is obligatory, but it can be bought for say 1200 rmb a year providing treatment to the same standard local teachers get (but not what you would be used to!).. Airfairs are usually include, but are becoming a bit tight as prices rise. Utilities are sometimes but not always included. The current tax rate is 15% on income over the threshold of 4,500 rmb a month (this is separate threshold for each employer you work for).

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