News
Minerva Language Institute Labour Commission Case Settled
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- Published on Tuesday, 12 August 2014 08:06
On March 18, 2014, the union lodged an unfair labour practice case against Minerva Language Institute (Minerva) for failing to negotiate at the Osaka Labour Relations Commission.
Strike wins Pay Raise, Lump Sum Payment at ECC
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- Published on Tuesday, 12 August 2014 06:21
After months of negotiations with ECC and a one-day strike, General Union members have won the reinstatement of annual pay increases for full-time teachers, and a lump sum payment.
Shimbashi LS Evacuation Poster Updated
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- Published on Sunday, 27 July 2014 13:49
At negotiations last week the General Union Gaba Branch asked the company a number of questions about emergency preparations, and showed a photo of the evacuation procedure poster in Shimbashi Learning Studio, which has been on the wall lacking an evacuation point for over 12 months. The company followed up on this and as seen below, there is now an evacuation point displayed at Shimbashi LS. The company is going to follow up all other LSs and ensure that they all have emergency posters with evacuation locations.
Union asks Gaba to improve poor safety preparations
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- Published on Saturday, 26 July 2014 14:41
On March 11th, 2011 the fifth biggest earthquake ever recorded occurred east of Tohoku. Nearly 16,000 people died, over 2,600 are still missing and almost 130,000 buildings totally collapsed.
Instructors who were working that day know that Gaba Corporation was almost completely unprepared for this event, and the company's response was chaotic at best.
Fairness in the workplace - A Berlitz story
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- Published on Wednesday, 13 August 2014 10:03
Disciplinary procedures and student complaints can cause a lot of stress for many teachers. Teachers are sent into a room alone to face people who are in a position of power and often feel bullied into signing statements of guilt with no time to consider what is happening or get advice.
Panasonic Excel, “We don’t sign collective agreements with minority unions.”
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 July 2014 06:21
What arrogance!
And with this the company wanted us just to have a “gentlemen's agreement” in regards to consulting the union BEFORE changes are made to members' working conditions.
For many years the union and Panasonic Excel International had a relatively smooth relationship and we were able to work out many problems which our members faced, but now, with the non-renewal of the branch chair, it’s hard to believe that Excel expects a smooth working relationship with the union.
Sunday, June 29 Open Public Seminars - Come along
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- Published on Thursday, 26 June 2014 08:31
We are holding to 2 seminars in Nagoya.
1. Universities: Towards 2018 - Impact of changes to Labor Contract Law (the 5 year rule)
2. ALTs & Eikaiwa: What are your rights?
Sexual Harassment at Gaba Corporation in the news
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- Published on Monday, 23 June 2014 02:59
Last week the Japan Times published an article dealing with the issue of sexual harassment at Gaba Corporation. It featured interviews with a number of Gaba instructor who gave their accounts of sexual harassment while working at Gaba. The stories were horrific, and something that no one should ever have to put up with.
ECC Teachers Strike: Pay Freeze NO! Pay Raise YES!
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- Published on Wednesday, 04 June 2014 12:46
After several rounds of Collective Bargaining with ECC, members in Chubu and Kansai were left with no option but to start industrial action and strike on Saturday, May 31st. The union had been negotiating with ECC management over Pay Increases, Annual Contract Completion Bonuses, Job Security, Teacher Evaluations and more. As Collective Bargaining proceeded ECC`s answers went from bad to worse.
Coco Juku ordered to pay up
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- Published on Monday, 12 May 2014 14:38
As a result of General Union demands, Nichii Gakkan, Coco Juku’s parent company, has ordered Coco Juku to follow Article 23 of the Labor Standards Law. Full details were sent to the union in official documents on May 7.
Kansai International School forced to pay
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- Published on Thursday, 22 May 2014 05:46
Kansai International School/Sakura International School is notorious for its paid holiday system. Now someone has finally done something about it.
After consulting the union, one teacher applied to use her remaining paid holidays when resigning from the company. This is your right. Rather than being intimidated by the company’s refusal to pay and stopping there, the teacher took action.
Privacy protection - You don't need to let Gaba staff photograph your ID with their own phone
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- Published on Wednesday, 30 April 2014 00:18
We like to think that we're all pretty tech savy, security conscious and not easily led. That being said, I know how easy it can be to agree to something that makes you feel a little uneasy, just to avoid the hassle of kicking up a fuss.
Gaba Branch Spring Party 2014 - Spring Smash!
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- Published on Wednesday, 30 April 2014 00:08
On Sunday April 13th the Gaba branch had its fifth social event in the last 18 months. We held our first Christmas party at The Pink Cow in Roppongi in December 2012, then Hanami in Yoyogi Park in April 2013. We then relocated to What The Dickens in Ebisu, a great British pub and live space only a few minutes from Ebisu station.
March scramble for classes
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- Published on Thursday, 24 April 2014 15:26
A large number of university and high school teachers are part-time workers. And as you know, the annual ritual of waiting around to hear about new schedules can be a nerve racking time. Will you receive the same number of classes? Will the school try to change your working days? What will you be teaching? Will the schedule from School A be available in time to arrange your schedule at School B?
Harassing Gaba clients can be blocked - Here is how:
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- Published on Monday, 21 April 2014 03:42
Many instructors are not aware that clients can be blocked, and think that they simply have to put up with bad treatment. This impression leads to problems, particularly in regards to sexual harassment from clients.
It is now well established that the quality of support that instructors receive when reporting incidents of sexual harassment is patchy at best. As such, the union brought it up as an issue in 2013 negotiations and has been pursuing the issue ever since.
General Union Gaba Branch appoints Sexual Harassment Officers
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- Published on Sunday, 20 April 2014 12:35
In response to a number of incidents where Gaba instructors had been sexually harassed by clients, the union decided to investigate the issue, and conducted a survey to gauge the prevalence.
Protecting personal information at Gaba
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- Published on Sunday, 20 April 2014 12:23
The union had received reports that some Gaba staff have not been following the company’s procedures and protecting instructors' information adequately.
Gaba lesson record Mindflash training: "NOT mandatory"
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- Published on Wednesday, 19 March 2014 14:42
In case instructors were wondering, despite the impression given by the latest MGI post on March 18th, the Mindflash training for the new lesson record system is not mandatory, and instructors cannot be forced to do it. If you receive any coercion to do so, please report it to the union so we can take up the case.
Fast-tracking unfair labor practice case against Minerva (BL Kids International School)
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- Published on Monday, 17 March 2014 05:15
After an early morning secretariat meeting today, two union officers are busy preparing documentation to lodge an unfair labor practice case against Minerva. We expect to be able to file the case at the Osaka Prefectural Labor Commission by lunchtime tomorrow.
Teaching math at Coco Juku?
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- Published on Thursday, 13 March 2014 05:23
Coco Juku is a new eikaiwa/English school chain that launched with a lot of fanfare in 2013. It is owned by Nichi Gakkan, that also happens to own Gaba.
No pay increases at ECC – Yet!
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- Published on Thursday, 13 March 2014 06:31
All instructors should be aware that ECC will be mailing out your new contracts shortly. Please note that you will not be advised of your hourly pay increase. Unlike other years, ECC has prolonged negotiations.
Berlitz members meet to plan bargaining strategy
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- Published on Tuesday, 11 February 2014 00:00
General Union members at Berlitz will meet this Sunday, 16 February to plan their third round of collective bargaining. Current demands include a 7% pay increase, pay for lock ups, union representation at disciplinary hearings, and pay for work done before, between, and after lessons; along with others.
Making a good job better - 2013 In Review
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- Published on Friday, 17 January 2014 08:13
2013 was a very good year for the General Union Gaba branch. It was different to all previous years for the agreements that we managed to make with the company and in the amount of social activities we organized to bring instructors together. We’re looking forward to making 2014 another year where we make a good job better – and we would love to have your help.
ECC Branch: Some of our many achievements
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- Published on Wednesday, 04 June 2014 13:07
The General Union and ECC have been negotiating for nearly 20 years. The latest Labour Agreement won as part of the 2013 Shunto (Spring Offensive) gives union members more protection against non-renewal. ECC has signed off on renewing members’ contracts unless there are exceptional reasons. This is a huge victory as contract renewals have been a long term concern for members.
Gaba's Slap in the Face to Instructors
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- Published on Thursday, 13 March 2014 15:56
Gaba Corporation has decided to hold a year-end party at Tokyo’s prestigious Imperial Hotel for all their Kanto region staff, and as such they have closed all 30 Kanto Learning Studios for the last three lessons on Sunday December 15th.
Unfortunately, you, I and the thousand or so other instructors are not invited.
Improving workers' lives at Berlitz since 1993
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- Published on Tuesday, 10 April 2012 06:14
Many of the working conditions that you now enjoy have been negotiated between the General Union and Berlitz:
- Enrollment in Unemployment Insurance for MG teachers.
- Enrollment in Health and Pension Insurance (shakai hoken) for those working 30+ hours per week.
- Paid holidays for MG and per lesson teachers. (collective agreements 1994 & 1999)
- Premium pay of 25% overtime and 35% for work on a set rest day.(collective agreement 1994)
- Right to refuse work on a set rest day or national holiday(collective agreement 1996)
- Pre-consultation agreement with the union before terminating, transferring or changing the working conditions of any union member.(collective agreement 1994)
- Grievances dealing with dismissals, health insurance, unfair treatment of teachers.
Third strike at Osaka Gaigo leads to mediation application
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- Published on Sunday, 08 December 2013 00:00
How do you deal with an employer that is like a deer frozen in your headlights in the middle of a highway? Welcome to Osaka Gaigo Senmon Gakko.
ECC and Gaba hold Christmas parties; teachers considered second class and not invited
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- Published on Friday, 14 March 2014 00:36
Two of the largest English School chains, Gaba and ECC, have held, or are about to hold Christmas parties. Unfortunately, regular teachers/instructors are not invited! The companies have invited both school and office staff in appreciation of their hard work but fail to recognize the hard work put in by teachers. ECC teachers were left to look at pictures of a luxury hotel party posted on Facebook by their coworkers.
Gaba Branch Update - November 2013
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- Published on Monday, 02 December 2013 00:00
October was a very sad and unusual month for the General Union Gaba Branch, with the disappearance of member Pascal Burel while hiking. The branch had never experienced anything like this before, but Pascal's fellow members, friends and coworkers rallied around to raise money and spread the word about the search. While the situation is very bad, and we hope nothing like this ever occurs again, the union managed to play a role in raising the profile of the case and helping to financially support the search.
