Duoc UC has been manipulating teachers for over 25 years to save money for a so-called “non-profit foundation” They hire and fire teachers year after year leaving teachers with no income during January and February. The teachers must continue to pay insurance during that period and try to survive until the next semester’s contact in mid March. This is all made possible by a little legality called a “finiquito”. A finiquito is like agreeing to being fired. This allows Duoc to get away with not paying the majority of their teachers during Jan and Feb, which also lets Duoc save money on paying for insurance for their staff. There’re teachers that have worked like this for over 20 years. Using this method the teachers never have the right to show that they have a stable job to apply for loans to buy a home. Year after year, Duoc gives us our schedule for the next semester before we sign our finiquito, they load the classes onto their system, students sign up for classes, and they maintain contact with their staff during the time (Jan-Feb) that the teachers are supposablly not working or affiliated with Duoc UC. They even hold obligated meetings before the semester starts that the teachers must attend, yet the teachers are not under any contract. All of the teachers complain about this situation, yet are too scared about losing their job. Only 130 were willing to stand up for their rights to get a full-time contract which they deserve by Chilean Law after two part-time contracts. I have been working for Duoc UC for almost 10 years and they have always obligated me to sign this finiquito saying that this is how the system here is Chile works. I am from the USA a “gringo” so, I feel that they have not only taken advantage of me but of all of my colleges that I work with. Once I realized that what Duoc was doing was only legal because I sign a finiquito, I decided to fight for my rights and yesterday I was fired for it along with 130 other teachers. You tell me what is ethical from any stand point about what Duoc UC is doing to with it’s teachers? Please share if you don't agree with the ethics of Duoc UC!
