The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has scheduled an election for June 7 to enable more than 90 English teachers at Kaplan Inc. to decide whether they want the Guild to represent them on the job.

The Guild petitioned the NLRB for an election after an overwhelming majority of the instructors, who teach English as a second language (ESL) at Kaplan International Centers in New York City, signed Guild cards. The NLRB requires a minimum showing of 30 percent to hold an election.  

“Kaplan teachers want what most employees want: a voice in the workplace and better working conditions,” said Bill O’Meara, president of the Newspaper Guild of New York. “What’s remarkable about these employees is that they’re actually doing something about it.”

Kaplan Inc., with $2.5 billion in revenues last year, was founded in 1938 by Stanley Kaplan and provides higher education programs, professional training courses, test preparation materials and language instruction around the world. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Washington Post Co. and is headquartered in New York City.

“We had a good working relationship with the Washington Post Co. when it owned Newsweek magazine, and there’s no reason that can’t be the case with Kaplan too,” said O’Meara.