Okay, here’s what happened on Day 1.
housecat and I fronted up to the CLA office, conveniently located near the KRT stop. Went directly to the fourth floor and asked for “Tony”. Felt rather like we were asking for admission to an illegal speakeasy.
“Tony” turned out to be known to the cubicle residents in the first office we barged into. Someone took us to him. He came out, looking somewhat harried, and escorted us to a weird little sitting area at the end of the hall.
We wanted to ask the theoretical questions about insurance coverage and the like before getting into the meat of our visit: why precisely “Tony” thought it was a good idea to call the school and inform them that housecat was “going to quit” when she had never told him that and had no idea he was going to call in the first place.
When matters got around to the first round of questions, “Tony” called in reinforcements. Ms. Yang, however, seemed more amused at Tony’s antics than willing to take his side against the foreigner menace. Tony made the mistake of trying to shout me down. Twice. He didn’t try for three. Then he played the Taiwanese card. Gave that up pretty quickly too.
After “Tony” left the meeting (having been strongly “suggested” that since another office was now taking on this matter, we didn’t want to waste his valuable time) it was suggested rather plainly to the remaining rep that the CLA would need to take at least partial responsibility for this firing as without Tony’s phone call as proximal cause, the teacher would never have been discharged. Documents that housecat has supports this claim as well. Ms Yang seems both competent and helpful.
In the end, we now have assurances that a) a formal complaint has been filed, and the school will have to show up and do some 'splainin; b) there are several points in the original contract and the school’s actions since then that are questionable based on ROC law and regulations; c) “Tony” will not be involved in any of this, particularly as an interpreter; and d) there is a way for housecat to continue her insurance coverage as long as she is in the ROC.
So, stay tuned for part 2. Probably not for a week or two, though. 