St. Giles ESL Teachers in San Francisco Unionize

Another ESL School in the US Organizes

St. Giles ESL in San Francisco has become the 3rd ESL school in the US school to form a collective bargaining unit. Reports depict a high level of solidarity, boldness, and a masterfully executed strategy. Reportedly management was informed of the organizing drive when teachers called a staff meeting where more than 50% vocally announced their support for unionization.

St. Giles becomes the 2nd ESL school to organize under TNG-CWA, specifically The Pacific Media Workers Guild:

Pacific Media Workers Guild

We are the Pacific Media Workers Guild, Local 39521 of The Newspaper Guild-Communications Workers of America. We represent more than 1,200 journalists and other media workers, interpreters, translators, union staffs and freelancers.

So congratulations teachers and welcome to the family!

Here is a brief article from their website:

(Copied and pasted for the lazy:)

ESL teachers unionize!

Kat Anderson — July 7, 2015

In a vote of 16 to 5, teachers from St. Giles International in San Francisco, an English language school, voted today for Guild representation.

The unit started organizing last November around issues of lack of pay for preparation time, low wages, inconsistent hours of work, job security and lack of benefits.

Carl Hall, Kat Anderson and Gloria La Riva from the Pacific Media Workers Guild worked on this campaign along with John Dugan from Communications Workers of America.