Variable Working Hours: What You Need to Watch For
In recent months, we’ve had a wave of consultations about working hours. Members are being told they must work Saturdays,…
Language Schools
Unlimited Term Contracts For University & Private School Workers Seminar
The presentation covers rights and facts about Unlimited Term Contracts (UTCs) for university and private school teachers in Japan. If…
Member Voices: A Successful Conversion
I was very interested in an unlimited term contract (UTC) because I’ve been learning about it from General Union for…
Sign Up for New Individual Organising Training, Version 5: Organising Starts Where You Work
Our Individual Organising Training is now on Version 5, and this time we’ve made a significant change. The basic purpose…
Why Is Unlimited-Term Conversion Different at Universities?
For most fixed-term workers in Japan, the right to request an unlimited-term contract (UTC) begins after five years of continuous…
Member Voices: Unreasonable Deadlines – Denied!
My latest interaction with a university I have worked part-time at for approximately 20 years involves the survey they send…
Universities Are Downsizing. Workers Shouldn’t Be Paying the Price
Japan’s universities are entering a difficult period. As the birthrate falls, so does the number of university-aged students. In the…
Protecting Core Conditions
A common question from members who have converted to an unlimited-term contract is whether their employer can now change their…
From Annual Uncertainty to Greater Stability
For many workers in Japan, every contract renewal brings the same question: Will I be offered another contract when this…
The Power of Membership Declaration
Nothing Kendra did was right. She was continuously talked down to, and she was being given meaningless tasks and the…
Power Harassment – When it’s not worth the fight
Anna worked at a private school where she had taught English classes and acted as an international coordinator for 10…
When Questions Become Harassment – A Member’s Story
This case began after I questioned what appeared to be a change in the university’s policy regarding online classes. I…
Power Harassment Part 5 – Privacy Invasion
Jenna* moved to the Japanese countryside with her Japanese husband and their four-year-old daughter last spring. The family began living…
Power Harassment Part 4 – Under Employment
When I first joined my company, things went well. I enjoyed my work, my projects were progressing, and I felt…
Power Harassment Part 3 – Excessive demands
Ben worked at an English school with several locations in Kansai. He fell into a depressive state after being harassed…
Power Harassment Part 2 – Psychological Aggression through Micromanagement
In a business office, Sam is given guidance on his work. He is told that the reports need more data…
Power Harassment Part 1 – Physical Aggression
As mentioned in this month’s introduction summary of workplace harassment, there are six types of harassment recognized under the umbrella…