News
Union Protests Mass Dimissals at G-EducationOPEN MEETING 8 January at 10:00AM at L-Osaka
NOVA OPEN MEETING 8 January 2007 at 10:00AM at L-Osaka
From General Union to ex Nova instructors and staff
No doubt you have already heard that G-Education has sprung a nasty Christmas present on those teachers (and staff?) who were waiting for formal re-hiring.
Universities roundup - December 2007
Osaka Kogyo Daigaku & Setsunan Daigaku Negotiations were held with these two colleges (part of the same group) on November 20.
Hotoku Gakuen Roundup
Alarmed by the school’s decision to cut a lot of the Eikaiwa classes, and fearing the school would use it as a pretext to cut hours and pay, the General Union held collective bargaining on 21 November.
OPEN MEETINGS FOR NOVA TEACHERS AND STAFF 29 OCTOBER/EMERGENCY ADVICE FOR TEACHING STAFF
NOVA applies for Corporate Rehabilitation
IN THE CASE OF BANKRUPTCY
If, as feared, NOVA goes bankrupt, under the government Wage Protection Fund, 80% of owed salaries are recoverable.
GABA Workers Demand Dignity at Work
A General Union organizing project which started in January this year in cooperation with our sister union in Tokyo has borne fruit. On 6 September, GABA workers declared a union to their employer.
Union demands industry reform.NOVA problems force union to reexamine its demands for change
From the October 2007 edition of the National Union Voice
NOVA workers now have a new choice
From the National Union Voice On 30 September over 100 NOVA teachers and staff packed themselves into the small General Union offices in Temmabashi with similar numbers attending meetings over two days in Tokyo.
Mass NOVA Meeting at GU, 30 September
On 30 September over 100 NOVA teachers and staff packed themselves into the small General Union offices in Temmabashi with similar numbers attending meetings over two days in Tokyo. The big question that everyone asked was whether NOVA was going to go under.
Union members' complaint to the Labour Standards Office wins wage payment
Our claim at the Labour Standards Office over unpaid wages was very effective, and NOVA actually paid the wages. Yesterday, we were contacted by the Labour Standards Offices inspectors and were told that NOVA would pay all outstanding wages owed to teachers.
OPEN NOVA MEETING FOR TEACHERS & STAFFSunday, 30 Sept. from 8:15pm at union office in Temmabashi
This is a letter which was posted to the Japan Times in regards to an article about NOVA printed on 25 September.
GU seeks clarification of ECC's Childcare Leave Policy
The ECC branch has submitted questions over childcare leave.
ECC informed the GU that full time instructors are eligible. Demands were then submitted that childcare leave be included in the the full time instructor work code. ECC has answered.
GU British Council members win extended rights
British Council teachers in Osaka who joined the GU when we were dealing with the closure of the British Council (BC) Kyoto School have won more rights at work.
Hirakata City bows to General Union demand for direct employment of ALTs
Hirakata City Board of Education (BoE) has decided to return to the direct hiring of ALTs from June 2007.
General Union anti-dispatching campaign makes the news
On March 24th the General Union took its campaign against the dispatching of ALTs to Boards of Education to the mass media.
STOP ILLEGAL DISPATCHING TO BOARDS OF EDUCATION!
In January 2007, the General Union conducted a survey among the Boards of Education of all cities, towns and villages in Osaka Prefecture to assess the employment conditions of Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs).
Education boards hit for using contract staff as ALTs (The Yomiuri Shimbun)
Twenty-three municipal boards of education in Osaka Prefecture are suspected of using native English-speaking contract workers as assistant language teachers and placing them under the control of schools, a possible violation of the Temporary Staffing Services Law, an Osaka-based union announced Thursday.
English Payslips Coming Soon?
How much of your payslip do you understand? For a large number of instructors it is a bunch of numbers and a lot of Japanese. Do you even know if you have been paid correctly?
Hearings to start at Osaka Labour Commission
Hearings in the Unfair Labour Practices case against Nichibei will be held on 13 February 2007, 10-12am and 14 March, 10-12am at Osaka Labour Commission.
Nichibei opens new school in Ikebukuro
or years, Nichibei claimed that they were in financial hard straits - before we checked up on their finances and found that they have never been in the red and are actually making good profits.
Excel Branch launches wage, job security, and union rights campaign
After finally settling a four year dispute regarding cut wages and employment rights the General Union Matsushita Branch members, submitted new demands to their employer on 11 November.
ECC Speak Survey
Speak has become an important educational tool at ECC for students and teachers alike.In an industry first, ECC students now have an advanced tool to practice and review for FTL lessons.
The General Union is concerned that instructors are not familiar with Speak. Some instructors have never had an opportunity to use Speak and are not familiar with the benefits it provides ECC students.
AEON raises pay with Shakai Hoken (Health and Pension)
The General Union's Shakai Hoken (Health and Pension) Campaign has directly resulted in improved working conditions for new teachers at AEON.
Branch Leadership Roles
ECC Branch Chair: Duties include calling and presiding over branch executive meetings and branch meetings. Liaising with the General Union executive committee over branch activity, campaigns, demands, negotiations and grievances. Submitting reports to the General Union Executive Committee and coordination of union communication with branch members.
Nichibei sued for 5th time for Unfair Labour Practices
Nichibei takes down union materials unilaterally from members' lockers and then sends letter forbidding any union activity in the workplace.
Nichibei sued for 4th time for Unfair Labour Practices
Vice-president Noriko Kuroda continues to slander the union and its leaders despite losing the last case at Osaka Labour Commission.
