News
Berlitz Unions submit demands to parent campany, Benesse
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 05:56
Friday, October 24 More than 120 people came out to support Bengunto (Berlitz Union Tokyo) as they stepped up the campaign at Berlitz and submitted demands to their parent company, Benesse.
October 26 in history
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 05:55
- October 26, 1863 Soccer rules standardized; rugby starts as a separate game
- October 26, 1881 Gunfight at OK Corral, in Tombstone, Arizona
- October 26, 1945 Hilary Clinton born
- October 26, 1972 Henry Kissinger declares "Peace is at hand" in Vietnam
- October 26, 2007 Nova declares bankruptcy
The Issues: ECC
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- Published on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 07:30
ECC union members have voted and are submitting the following demands to ECC.
Daily allowance for sub-teachers
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- Published on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 07:41
The union is calling for ECC to provide sub-teachers with a daily allowance of 500yen.
NOVA - Latest News
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 05:44
G Education (branded as Nova) is up and running with more and more schools opening. Now is the chance for teachers to take a stand and demand a fair voice in their workplace.
Stop outsourcing at Mukogawa Womens University
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- Published on Wednesday, 23 May 2012 06:42
From 2006, Mukogawa Women’s University (MWU) has been outsourcing English education to a major English school whose main purpose is to maximize profits.
Belitz Union Dues
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 05:46
Only working part-time at Berlitz? Union dues are based upon a sliding scale aimed to make union membership available to all workers. Dues range from 500 - 1000 yen per month based upon your average monthly salary.
ECC Nagoya ALP Lottery System
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- Published on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 07:51
Are you aware that the ECC Chubu district is the only area that uses the ALP lottery system?
Nichibei Staff Trip: No Teachers Invited!
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 05:31
Nichibei organised an overnight 'Staff Training' trip to Shirahama on 7th to 8th September, and it seems to have been a great success, though we think the staff at Nichibei actually deserve much more than this as a reward for their hard work, such as a base-up pay rise and real bonuses.
English Payslips Arrive!
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 06:35
Thanks to the General Union ECC branch your payslips should now be easier to understand.
Important Notice to ECC teachers enrolled in Shakai Hoken (Employees' Health and Pension)
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 03:46
The Social Insurance Agency (Shakai Hoken Cho) is currently seeking confirmation that your pension records are correct.
ECC 100 Campaign
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- Published on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 07:29
In the summer, we launched the ECC 100 Campaign and are happy to announce that we have met the first target and won our training pay demands.
ECC 100 Campaign On Target!
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- Published on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 07:32
In the summer, we launched the ECC 100 Campaign and are happy to announce that we have met the first target and won our training pay demands.
ECC Best School - A close one!
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- Published on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 07:48
Thanks to all of you who voted in this year's Best School Survey. The results were that close that we have decided to name the top 5.
Applying for Osaka City Public Housing
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 05:41
Osaka City will re-start an application process for municipal housing for low-income earning households who are in urgent situation to find housing.
ACC Teacher Wins Severance Pay
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 04:47
A teacher at ACC, a small conversation school in Nagoya, was recently fired without notice, seemingly for having the audacity to take two days off work while she was sick.
AEON - 150,000 reasons to be happy
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 04:49
Back in June we reported on an AEON teacher who had received a small amount of overtime pay from the company once they knew the union was on to the case. However, after the union completed a detailed calculation of the true amount owed, it was clear that AEON was still shortchanging the teacher.
What is a "break" Berlitz?
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- Published on Wednesday, 30 May 2012 04:25
Berlitz Kansai union members have taken a stand and voted to push ahead to win payment for the 5 minute interval between lessons. Berlitz calls it a break but a break presumes that it is time off to relax. The interval between lessons at Berlitz is very much work – unpaid work.
Berlitz teachers demand to be paid for all work
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 05:54

Are you happy with the ECC training system?
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- Published on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 07:38
Nationwide instructors have been contacting the General Union unhappy about the current training system. Isn't it time you did something about your working conditions?
It's on - the Berlitz Branch Summer BBQ
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 05:51
Date - Sunday August 3rd 2008
Time - from 2pm
Place - Temmabashi, Osaka by the river (Keihan and Tannimachi train lines)
AEON Leafletting Brings Results
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 04:50
After just a few days of leafleting at AEON Nagoya training sessions, management is running scared.
Union member receives overtime pay
Before the union had time to formally demand overtime pay for our members, management has suddenly paid one member's overtime. Some Aeon managers will say you are not entitled to paid overtime. So why did they pay our members overtime? Japanese labour law clearly states that all overtime must be paid for.
AEON does about face over housing issue
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 04:49
Ever wondered about leaving AEON housing? It isn't uncommon for teachers to be told this is impossible, that they must continue to pay rent until the end of their employment contract. This is untrue and a violation of housing laws.
AEON Nagoya does about face over housing
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- Published on Thursday, 26 June 2008 00:00
Ever wondered about leaving AEON housing? It isn't uncommon for teachers to be told this is impossible, that they must continue to pay rent until the end of their employment contract. This is untrue and a violation of housing laws.
AEON Nagoya Leafletting Brings Results
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- Published on Thursday, 26 June 2008 00:00
After just a few days of leafletting at AEON Nagoya training sessions, management is changing its tune.
Union member receives overtime pay
Before the union had time to formally demand overtime pay for our members, management has suddenly paid one member's overtime.
The union in smaller workplaces
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- Published on Wednesday, 30 May 2012 03:26
Most of the news that we report at the General Union is the bigger cases but we do a lot of work at smaller companies too. Here is one such case.
ECC - The Issues
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- Published on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 07:45
Why 100 yen? Starting salaries for full-time instructors have remained constant since the 29.5 hour contract was introduced ten years ago.
GABA Teachers Win a Pay Increase!
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- Published on Saturday, 11 October 2014 05:07
GABA teachers have unionized and are seeing direct results. Shortly into negotiations the company announced an across the board increase of 100yen per lesson for teachers: an increase of over 6% for the lowest paid teachers. Teachers with Belt training have received an increase of 200yen per lesson: an increase of 10% for many. Depending on the number of lessons taught, that is a monthly pay increase of 15,000 - 40,000yen per month.
AEON Teachers: Working Too Much?
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 04:54
Learn how to say no to unreasonable demands on YOUR time. Join us in our campaign to win unpaid overtime.