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From silenced to vocal: Teacher unionists’ growing influence on educational development in Taiwan

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  • Hung, Cheng-Yu

Abstract

The oldest teachers’ union in Taiwan, The National Federation of Teachers Unions, has been in operation for almost eight years. This is in stark contrast with the situation in Western countries where teachers’ unions have existed for over a century. This article looks into how these pioneering teacher unionists emulated their western forerunners and finally formed a new voice for their peers. By means of interviews with twenty founding members, it is proposed that unionism and professionalism are not mutually exclusive and that the betterment of working conditions can contribute to the quality of education delivered to children. In line with this integrated philosophy, the unions have developed strategies to exercise their right to speak. Micro-strategies champion professional identity to improve members’ teaching practice and gain the public’s trust. Macro-strategies involve teacher unionists’ activism in power politics, contrary to the traditional Confucian image of teachers in Taiwan. The evolution of teacher unionism in such a young democracy can provide inspiration to nearby countries with educators still silenced by those in power and show that teachers can play an active role in transforming education outside the classroom.

Suggested Citation

  • Hung, Cheng-Yu, 2019. "From silenced to vocal: Teacher unionists’ growing influence on educational development in Taiwan," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:71:y:2019:i:c:s0738059319302196
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2019.102124
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sarosh Kuruvilla & Daniel G. Gallagher & Jack Fiorito & Mitsuru Wakabayashi, 1990. "Union Participation in Japan: Do Western Theories Apply?," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 43(4), pages 374-389, July.
    2. Kathleen Thelen & Ikuo Kume, 1999. "The Effects of Globalization on Labor Revisited: Lessons from Germany and Japan," Politics & Society, , vol. 27(4), pages 477-505, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cynthia Adlerstein & Marcela Pardo, 2023. "Chilean Early Childhood Teachers’ Discourses on Professional Associations Building Professionalism: Cohesions and Tensions of an Ecosystem," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, April.

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