Hats Off To Osaka Gaigo Members - Two Annual Pay Rises In A Row!
This is what determination looks like!
Osaka Gaigo members win 1.3% across the board pay raise for 2020.
This on top of a 2% 2019 pay rise!
Want to win improvements at your workplace? Osaka Gaigo members show you what you can achieve with determination.
Back in 2013, despite falling teacher and student numbers, the General Union's Osaka Gaigo Branch decided that it was time to stop the long freeze on their pay.
The reasoning was simple: although student numbers were declining, the school was replacing retiring full-time regular and contract workers with part-timers, thus reducing their costs.
5% Wage Demand at Osaka Gaigo
Union members who were involved in a long labour dispute with their employer from 2013 which culminated in the Supreme Court turning down the school's refusal to follow the Osaka Labour Commission ruling ordering the employer to share financial data with the union, have submitted demands for 5% pay increase as well as access to financial data.
While members secured a 2% increase in 2019, we feel that asking for an additional pay increase after the school's stalling tactics of filing appeal after appeal since 2013, is very reasonable. Members note another increase in student numbers (still to be clearly established as it's only February) which points to the employer's improved financial situation and ability to increase pay.
Unfair Labor Practices at Kansai Gaidai
The General Union has sued Kansai Gaidai University (KGU) and SEICO at the Osaka Prefectural Labor Commission for unfair labor practices stemming from their violations of the Trade Union Law. We are asking for the following:
1. Stop anti-union activities and apologize publicly.
2. Continue the employment of union members.
3. Increase the number of directly employed faculty by giving preference to existing workers on limited term contracts employed by the university and SEICO.
Stop Harassment at Sophia University - Sign The Petition
Professor Choo, a member of NUGW Tokyo Nambu, is fighting against her dismissal at Sophia University.
Sophia University issued a de facto dismissal notice on July 17, 2019 to Professor Kukhee Choo of the Faculty of Liberal Arts Department.
Professor Kukhee Choo left her university in the United Sates to join Sophia University as an Assistant Professor 5 years ago after being told by the FLA Department that, "As for promotion to Associate Professor, with your record, we strongly feel that you may be able to apply for [tenure] as early as your second year at the FLA".
General Union Sues Sugiyama Jogakuen Educational Corporation At Osaka Prefectural Labor Commission
Sugiyama Jogakuen Educational Corporation, having repeatedly broken the law, was on its last chance to resolve things voluntarily through negotiation.
After that, the Corporation responded to the General Union’s demand for collective bargaining by saying that "the decision of our Board of Trustees is not going to change, so holding collective bargaining is meaningless", sending the Union a notice refusing to even have negotiations at all.
GU Demands Equal Pay And Direct Employment For Dispatch Teachers From SEICO
SEICO is a dispatching company that almost exclusively dispatches teachers to Kansai Gaidai, with the CEO having very close links to the university.
Unfortunately, we have been informed by non-union members uneasy about developments that management have orchestrated a campaign to "Keep the General Union out of SEICO".
This campaign has arisen because the General Union has a small but growing number of members who are employed by SEICO and dispatched to the university.
Osaka Gaigo: What Are They So Desperate To Hide?
Bunsai Gakuen Educational Corporation and Osaka Gaigo Semmon Gakko Stubbornly Refuse to Show their Financial Statements
In our February 2018 article, we reported on the puzzling behavior of Osaka Gaigo Semmon Gakko in pouring money wastefully into a lawsuit while insisting that they “have no money” ("Osaka Gaigo's Got Money To Burn! (But Not For Union Members)").
The situation has continued to develop.
When the Osaka Prefectural Labor Commission issued an order for relief of unfair labor practices, commanding the school to "apologize to the Union and allow them to examine the financial statements", Osaka Gaigo filed suit in Osaka District Court seeking cancellation of the relief order.
Shoin Gakuen: How Will They "Explain" Their Illegal Dismissals In Court?
A General Union member who held a job as a non-regular teacher of English at Shoin High School (operated by Shoin Gakuen Educational Corporation) was dismissed from the job, with no reason given, on March 31st (2018) - just a day before gaining the right to switch to an unlimited-term contract.
On June 25th (2018), our union member filed suit against Shoin Gakuen Educational Corporation, claiming the dismissal was invalid, and held a press conference together with the General Union.
The scene was broadcast by several major media outlets in the Kansai region (MBS・Asahi・KTV・YTV).
It's Not Too Late To Make Sure You Don't Lose Your Pension
Back in February of 2017, a retiring, long-term union member at Osaka Gaigo Senmon Gakko realised that - even though he qualified for a pension - he would lose nine years of potential pension contributions.
The union won health and pension insurance rights back in 2000, but his first nine years were lost...
Or so he thought.
Shoin Gakuen Makes The News
Even though the General Union's name wasn't mentioned, our members' illegal dismissal due to the implementation of the Labor Contract Law amendements (aka the "five year rule") has made the news.
This coming Monday, June 25th, we will be holding a press conference as we lodge the court case against Educational Corporation Shoin Gakuen, and we expect television cameras to be there.
Read the Japanese article below (click for full size):
More Articles...
- Okinawa Christian University To Withdraw Dismissals Of Non-Regular Teaching Staff
- Problems Solved At Kansai Gaidai
- Osaka Gaigo's "Argument"
- Osaka Gaigo's Got Money To Burn! (But Not For Union Members)
- Kindai - Response To The General Union
- Osaka Gaigo Court Case Update (September 14, 2017)
- Osaka Shoin And "The 5 Year Rule" (Part 1)
- Osaka Shoin And "The 5 Year Rule" (Part 2)
- Members Speak Up; Kansai Gaidai Backs Down
- GU Member sues Osaka Gaigo for pension damages - March 13
Subcategories
-
Higher Education (General)
- Article Count:
- 17
-
Kansai Gaidai
- Article Count:
- 6
-
Kindai
- Article Count:
- 3
-
Osaka Gaigo Senmon Gakko
- Article Count:
- 15
-
Ritsumeikan
- Article Count:
- 1
-
Nagoya Gaidai
- Article Count:
- 1
