English teachers at EC London are voting on strike action in an unprecedented move for the TEFL industry. This the first time private sector English language teachers in the UK have balloted to strike.
Teachers at EC English London, based in Angel, Islington, are balloting for strike action in a historic escalation of their campaign for better pay, conditions and union recognition. It marks the first time that teachers in the UK’s private teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) sector have taken this step.
The workers, who are members of the TEFL Workers’ Union (part of the Industrial Workers of the World), have been organising at EC for 18 months. Following a rally and a formal request for union recognition on 30 May, they are now balloting for industrial action, as the company is refusing to open negotiations.
Helen Jardine, an EC London teacher and IWW member, said: “All we want right now is for the company to recognise our union and open negotiations. We love our jobs and we love our students, and we have formed a union because we want to improve things for everyone. We have had some key wins through informal organising, but it’s clear that we need formal recognition if we are going to get to where we need to be.”
Their demands include the restoration of real-terms pay, which has fallen behind inflation since the pandemic, and the introduction of paid admin time – something standard across most of the education sector but still denied to TEFL teachers. The teachers are also calling on EC to engage in good-faith negotiations with their union.
Simon Francis, an EC London teacher and IWW member, said: “I love my job, but love doesn’t pay the bills. Now it’s time to stand up for ourselves, our students, and the future of the profession. We’re not just fighting for a few extra pounds – we’re fighting for dignity, sustainability and a voice at work. This ballot is a message to the whole sector: things need to improve.”
In an indicative ballot conducted last month, members voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action should management fail to meet their demands. The formal ballot will begin on Tuesday 17 June and, if successful, could lead to the first-ever strike in a UK private language school.
Tom Liebewitz, lead organiser for the TEFL Workers’ Union (IWW), said: “This is a turning point for the entire industry. Teachers are done with low pay, unpaid admin and being ignored. The EC London workers are showing what’s possible when we organise together. The EC bosses need to understand that if they keep refusing to meet with their workers, those workers could walk out. There’s still time to avoid a strike, but only if EC stops stonewalling and starts negotiating seriously with the union.”
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