preparing for battle

One of the main differences in teaching, here in Mexico as opposed to England, is your contract negotiation. In England, when you sign a contract with a school, you pretty much have a job for life. You agree to come back every year, they agree to have you back. Built into the contract is an annual pay rise. Often that pay rise is the same as inflation - sometimes more, sometimes less. But you can be assured of, at least, a couple of percent. It isn't the same here.

I sign a one year contract (in fact, I haven't even signed a contract this year!?!!). This means that every year I have to sit down with TPTB and discuss what is going to happen next year. Tomorrow, 1pm, is the time I will sit down to discuss my contract.

I don't think it's going to be fun. I might, of course, be totally wrong. But, listening to how other negotiations have gone, sensing how the mood is in the school,  I get the feeling that some time tomorrow (round about 1:02pm) shit and fan are going to come together.

It might be my Englishness, but I really, really don't like discussing my salary. I don't like discussing my contract. The fact is, I do my job and (I think) I do it well. It should be straight forward. Congrats on doing a good job, here's a contract and a wedge of money. Enjoy. But nothing is straight forward. There is a complicated scoring system, there are the memos I have received, and there is (above all else) a feeling, on the side of TPTB, that negotiation means take it or leave it.

And it is the presentation of the meeting. If they said to me: We think you've done a good job. We think you'll do a better job next year. Here's 1% extra. It would be fine. But, I get the feeling that it is going to go: We think you did this wrong. We can't trust you to get it right next year. We're only giving you 1%. It would be not fine.

Of course, I might be totally wrong. Maybe I'm getting grumpy for no reason. Anyhoo, my contract is up for negotiation tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Comments

[J.A.S.]

Being a teachers' son I can tell you that in public education system you get a job for life. Of course, you will get very little money (at the beginning, after a while you can get higher salaries based on your qualifications) but my parent will tell you it is worth it (46 and 28 years later). Best of lucks for tomorrow!

[Helen]

My latest post is all your fault, Will. You used 'shit' and 'fan' in the same sentence and triggered some memories.

[Helen]

I changed the wording to "inspired" by Will.

[(S)wine]

luck to-day.
here, at this major university, we usually are quite lucky if we get between 2 and 3%. This year, actually, the state senate is proposing a 1.2% increase. Brilliant math, don't you think, looking at the percentage of inflation in this country in the last 12 months.
anyway, luck to you...the good kind.

[Maria bonita]

For whatever is worth being on the other side of the negotiation table; we are oftentimes more scared and nervous that the employee. Also; you are not a good Teacher, you are an outstanding one, students fall in love with you. Remember that always.

[Vanessa]

Good luck. Negotiation is an art that you only improve at - if it messes up this yar, it will right itself next.