Ben Cowles
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TEACHERS of English have bombarded a language school’s social-media accounts with demands to pay staff laid off following the coronavirus lockdown.
The Tefl Workers’ Union has called on its members and supporters to “say no to wage theft” by taking part in a week of online protests against Language House London.
The school closed on March 20 and has yet to pay its sacked staff their last month’s wages, according to staff and the union.
The union began its action on Monday by commenting on the school’s Facebook posts with messages demanding the owner pay up. The school closed its Facebook page later that day.
Today the union took its demands to Language House London’s Instagram account.
“Language House is on the run as they close up another social media channel,” the union tweeted this afternoon after the school blocked comments on its Instagram account. “Thanks for all the help everyone! Let’s keep up the pressure!”
The school’s owner Loredana Bolba told the Star the following message had been sent to staff and the Tefl Workers’ Union: “We are doing our very best to ensure that all persons are kept in the picture whilst the company assesses its position, in line with the government advice we are following.”
Former Language House London teacher Will Macintosh told the Star that at least 10 other teachers from the school are taking part in the protest and that none of them, including himself, has been paid.
“Luckily I work at another more reputable school in London and they’ve enrolled me onto the government’s furlough scheme,” Mr Macintosh said.
“So I’ve a modest income now — but if it was my only job, then it would be a catastrophe.”
