The IWW TEFL campaign defends a worker against alleged contract breach, missing and late pay, and maternity discrimination from language school Escape Campus.
After returning to work at Escape Campus, also known as Verbo English, Sheela* alleges she was subjected to repeated illegal and shocking actions.
Sheela returned from maternity leave to working part-time at Escape expecting to resume her contracted part-time hours. However, she contends the Bloomsbury-based school began only offering her a fraction of what was set out in her contract. As well, she alleges she was no longer paid for admin work like she was before she went on maternity leave, and her wages came consistently late.
Reflecting on how she’s been treated she said, “I love my job and I love my students — but after returning from maternity leave, I was given fewer hours, lower pay, and denied the rights I’m legally entitled to.”
The IWW TEFL workers campaign has been fighting for years to support workers like Sheela from the poor conditions that are common across the sector. However, Escape might just stand out, says Tom Liebewitz, the lead organiser for the TEFL Workers’ Union:
“Escape, through its many corporate guises, is known as a bad player amongst London schools. It employs many teachers on questionable self-employed contracts and has previously lost a tribunal for religious discrimination. But we’re here to hold even the worst TEFL employers to account. We’re not going away until Escape does right by Sheela.”
They’ve informed Escape Campus that she is making a claim for constructive dismissal, meaning Sheela has left her job in direct response to the poor treatment she’s received including serious breach of contract. As well as providing legal support, the union is looking to put pressure on Escape Campus through a public campaign.
Sheela knows unions are an essential part of making sure bosses don’t get away with wage theft and discrimination, “This isn’t just about me — it’s about how working mothers are treated across the sector. No one should be punished for having a child. I’m speaking out to hold Escape accountable — and to demand better for all of its staff.”
*A pseudonym used to protect the worker’s identity.
