Following EL Gazette’s report on the strike ballot among teachers at EC London, the school has issued a statement.
EC London’s response clarifies their perspective on the ongoing situation, including their position on union recognition and teacher remuneration. In line with our commitment to balanced reporting, we present EC London’s statement in its entirety.
Firstly, EC London is not a unionised workplace. While a portion of teachers have joined the TEFL Workers’ Union (IWW), there is no evidence that the union represents a majority of our teaching staff. No formal recognition ballot has taken place, and as such, the union does not have a mandate to speak on behalf of the entire team.
The union has requested voluntary recognition without demonstrating majority support and is now threatening industrial action following EC’s decision not to bypass standard democratic procedures. We believe this approach is not constructive and runs counter to the collaborative environment we strive to maintain.
In terms of pay, EC London is committed to offering competitive salaries and conditions. We are proud to be among the higher-paying schools in the private language sector, and we provide a range of benefits that are not widely available elsewhere. Despite sector-wide challenges and a continued decline in language student numbers across the UK, we awarded our teachers a substantial salary increase this year to support our team in London.
As a sector still recovering from the long-term impact of COVID-19 and facing ongoing challenges, collaboration and stability are more vital than ever. At EC, we have been working hard to improve working conditions and support our team, even in difficult circumstances. Escalating to industrial action at this time risks undermining the progress we’ve all worked hard to achieve.
Our commitment to our students, our team and to maintaining the highest possible standards of education and care remains unchanged. While some disruption may occur, we are fully prepared to manage it effectively and will ensure that classes continue with minimal interruption.
