News
ALTs and the Influenza - Tell the us what's happening
Do you have any control over your own workplace?The current influenza situation is proving very clearly that you don't.
Hannan University Teachers - "Thanks GU. No koma cuts in 2010"
The General Union (GU) members at Hannan University are very grateful to the union for helping them avoid koma cuts next year.
ALTs make the evening news
The topic of Assistant Language Teachers in public schools is heating up. In a report by a news program one parent complained that their child's class had seven different ALTs in a year.
Nagoya City ALTs - Open Meeting
More and more Nagoya-shi Board of Education ALTs are contacting us and in response we are preparing to launch the Nagoya City ALT Branch/Local.
Nagoya City ALTs - Open Meeting
More and more Nagoya-shi Board of Education ALTs are contacting us and in response we are preparing to launch the Nagoya City ALT Branch/Local.
Do you work at St. Thomas University?
In light of St. Thomas University’s (owned by Eichi Gakuin) decision to stop all new enrollment with the aim of closing the university in the near future, General Union members at this university have submitted demands for collective bargaining.
ALT: Dispatch vs. Direct Hire
Interac teachers recently won direct hire at Kurashiki Board of Education. Compare the working conditions! Read full story here.
Direct Hire Vs. Interac
| Working Conditions | Kurashiki Direct Hire | Interac Dispatch |
| Monthly Salary | 330,000 | Variable: 180 - 260,000 depending on nationality |
| Housing Allowance | 25,000 | zero |
| Summer Salary | 100% | 60% |
| Yearly Bonus | 150-420,000 | zero |
| Shakai Hoken (health & pension) | Yes, 50% paid by employer | zero |
| Paid Annual Leave | 15 - 20 days days | 5 days |
| Sick Leave | 5 days | zero |
| Extended Paid Medical Leave | up to 25 days | zero |
| Bereavement Leave | 10 days | zero |
| Job Security | Yes | Dispatch company always at risk of losing contract |
Are you and your co-workers interested in direct hire? Contact the union to find out more.
Teacher’s schedule restored after GU sends demands
A long-time Union member working as a part-time teacher at several universities in Nagoya received a double dose of bad news in January this year. First, he was informed by Kinjo university that his schedule of 3 koma (classes per week) would be cut to 2 in the school year 2009~10. Then, later the same week, he received a schedule by Meijo University which included 2 classes for the second semester of the school year but ZERO classes for the first. With a family to support, he was understandably concerned about the loss of teaching hours and income, so he reported both problems to the Union.
University Class Cancellations - GU Wins Settlement in Nagoya
Many GU members teach part-time at universities and colleges. Working as a part-timer at such institutions has its good points, but it also has a major downside because it’s so insecure. There’s never a guarantee that your one-year contract will be renewed, and universities commonly draw up class schedules on the basis of a very optimistic projection of student numbers in the coming school year. Part-time teachers then have to block off hours during their week so that they can take the classes on offer.
Interac kicked out of Kurashiki Board of Education - Union wins direct employment for teachers
Interac, notorious for illegal sub-contracting and its hostile attitude to worker rights, continues to grow across Japan but the union has been able to stop them in their tracks in Kurashiki, Okayama prefecture.
University Class Cancellations - GU Wins Settlement in Nagoya
Many GU members teach part-time at universities and colleges. Working as a part-timer at such institutions has its good points, but it also has a major downside because it’s so insecure.
ECC teachers win a toll free number!
Thanks to the General Union ECC branch, teachers with substitute shifts will no longer be required to spend money to find out what their working hours are.
Interac - Rumor has it....
There's an Interac office out there that "messed-up" on more than 150 contracts and they are now in a mad scramble to get teachers to sign another contract accepting lower salaries. You are not required to do so.
General Union forces re-investigation into ex-NOVA president, Sahashi
In 2008, The General Union officially sought indictment NOVA’s former president, Mr Sahashi over non-payment of wages (a violation of the Labor Standards Law). When prosecutors declined to indict, the General Union took the matter to the auditors of the Public Prosecutors Office. They have now ruled the original decision “unjust”.
Ryukoku University, GU reach agreement 龍谷大学で合意
Last October, Ryukoku University announced cuts in classes for part-time teachers in the Faculty of Intercultural Communication at the Seta Campus.
Open Meeting For ALTs - Kansai regionSunday, April 26th
We, ALTs, are quite aware of the growing problems that we face in our field on a daily basis. It's time to come together and see what can be done about them.
To part-time teachers at Meijo University
Greetings!This is a joint message from the General Union (GU) and Tokai Part-time University Teachers’ Union (PUTU).
We say that universities should get their numbers right... or pay teachers anyway.
0120-ECC-???
ECC sub-teachers are unfairly burdened with the cost of calling HQ every day they sub. In fact, there is a question if teachers are legally required to.
ECC - Best School Picture?
Do you recognize these flashcards? What school are they from?
Latest Nova Actions
Keep up to date with the NOVA dispute. Bookmark this page - we will be updating it regularly.
Interac? Selti? W5? Altia? Borderlink? Westgate? Ziac?
Early each year there is a mad scramble amongst dispatch teachers. The union gets inundated with email and telephone calls from teachers worried that they may be non-renewed, worried that they don't have unemployment insurance.
ECC Collective Bargaining Update
Collective bargaining is moving forward – there is positive movement on some points with the company refusing to budge on others.
Not even JET positions are safe from dispatch
We recently fielded a frantic call from a JET teacher in Northern Japan.
ECC Negotiations Set for February 5
The second round of negotiations has been set. Branch members are encouraged to attend and send ECC a message. Please note that non-members are not permitted to attend.
