Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union
Encyclopedia
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
in the Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. It was established in 1973. The president of the group is Cheung Man Kwong
Cheung Man Kwong
Cheung Man Kwong , born 15 September 1954 in Hong Kong with family roots in Taishan, Guangdong) is a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council representing the Education functional constituency. He is a member of Hong Kong Democratic Party and chairman of Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union...
, who has been in this position since 1990. The union claims to unite more than 90% of teachers with a membership of more than 80,000.
It operates discount stores, book shops, optometrists and other services for its members.
History
The union was founded as a response to the cut in salaries by 15% in 1973, which triggered a full-scale strike.In 1978, the Golden Jubilee School was shut down by the Education Department
Education and Manpower Bureau
The Education Bureau is responsible for education policies in Hong Kong.The bureau is headed by the Secretary for Education and oversees the Secretariat, University Grants Committee and Student Financial Assistance Agencies...
after 900 students and teachers organised a sit-in to protest financial irregularities. 16 of the school's teachers were dismissed. Through the efforts of the HKPTU, all the teachers won reinstatement.
During the first indirect elections in 1985 to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
, the group's chairman Szeto Wah
Szeto Wah
Szeto Wah was a politician of the pan-democracy camp of Hong Kong. He was formerly the chairman of The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China and a member of the Legislative Council from 1985 to 1997 and 1998 to 2004.Although the Hong Kong government prior to as...
was elected and in 1988 he was reelected.
In 1987, the HKPTU participated in the organization of a public gathering in Victoria Park
Victoria Park, Hong Kong
Victoria Park is a public park in Hong Kong, named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. It is located in Causeway Bay, on the north of Hong Kong Island, between Causeway Bay and Tin Hau MTR stations...
in support of the 1988 Direct Election of the Legislative Council, advocating a democratic political system instead of the system in which the legislators where appointed by the governor.
In 1989 the HKPTU took part in organizing the largest concert in Hong Kong to raise fund to support of the students who protested against the Tiananmen massacre in Beijing.
The present chairman Cheung Man Kwong was elected to the Legislative Council in 1992 and 1995.
The HKPTU furthermore fought for higher salaries for kindergarten teachers. Finally in 1994, the Education Department agreed to subsidize the salaries of teachers in all non-profit making kindergartens. At the same time, funding was provided to expand training programs to ensure most kindergarten teachers should be given the chance to receive training to become qualified.