News
ECC Union Dues Chart
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- Published on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 07:58
ECC members are required, except in special circumstances, to pay their union dues through a checkoff arrangment the union has with ECC. After filling out the required form, your union dues will be withdrawn from your monthly salary and remitted to the union.
Click here to download the checkoff form.
Sub-shifts- Are they legal?
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- Published on Saturday, 01 April 2006 00:00
More and more teachers are asking questions about ECC's sub-shift system.
Not Everyone Is An English Teacher
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 05:41
While the General Union is predominantly a union of language teachers, we also accept members in other walks of life. We were established to be a home for workers without a union at their workplace or who, being part-time or on fixed-term contracts, are traditionally not organised by workplace unions representing full-time permanent staff.
Strikes Averted at Matsushita-Excel
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- Published on Saturday, 11 February 2006 00:00
Teachers at Matsushita were all set to begin a series of rolling strikes from January 31st but last minute talks have resulted in teachers agreeing to put them on hold ・ for the moment at least.
Best School Survey - Congratulations!
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- Published on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 07:39
The survey results have been tallied and you've voted on the best ECC School out there. The winner by far is Nishinomiya. Teachers working there are impressed by the preparation done by the support staff at the school. In the Tokai region, the winner was Kanayama Honko.
SAC Branch Survey Results
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- Published on Wednesday, 23 May 2012 06:07
Many respondents were interested in shakai hoken for part-timers. In this regard, Japanese law does not differentiate between full- and part-time workers. It simply states that all workers must be enrolled. In practice, however, the shakai hoken office follows internal ordinances that says those working 3/4 of a full-timer's schedule must be enrolled. Companies are left to decide for themselves if they want to offer shakai hoken to workers who do not meet this condition.
SAC Branch Survey Results
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- Published on Wednesday, 23 May 2012 06:07
Many respondents were interested in shakai hoken for part-timers. In this regard, Japanese law does not differentiate between full- and part-time workers.
Court rules English language school Nova billed student illegally
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 06:04
KYOTO -- English language conversation school operator Nova Co. illegally billed a student when it refused to refund her the full price she had paid for classes she didn't take, the Kyoto District Court ruled.
WARNING - Money Stolen at Umeda School
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- Published on Monday, 23 January 2006 00:00
This past week has seen another wallet stolen at Umeda school. This is the third incident in a little over six months.
University in Kyoto settles hiring muddle
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- Published on Wednesday, 30 May 2012 04:17
One member had an interview at a university in Kyoto, and was offered the job, but the offer was later withdrawn as it was realised that he did not have the necessary qualifications (even though he had explicitly pointed this out in his resume).
Nichibei Eigo Gakuin to pay up for overtime
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- Published on Wednesday, 04 July 2012 07:42
Last November the company notified the employees of a workers representative election, and school managers started arranging it, making ballot sheets and asking for candidates.
Non-socialization Policy - another nail in the coffin
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 05:39
While Nova will never admit it, the "non-socialization policy" is dead.
Is something changing at NOVA?
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 03:55
Collective bargaining at NOVA has always had a predictable trend: the union submits demands, the company agrees to meet, we meet, and NOVA says NO in a loud and clear voice.
Nova to pay teacher over demotion
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 05:49
Nova Co. has agreed out of court to pay 400,000 yen to a former employee who sued the major chain of language schools after his allowance was cut due to his association with a female student, informed sources said Saturday.
Nichibei abolishes Special Holidays
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 05:16
Under the old working rules (demanded by the union in 1997) Nichibei employees were entitled to:
Nova to pay teacher over demotion 2
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- Published on Wednesday, 23 May 2012 05:34
OSAKA (Kyodo) Nova Co. has agreed out of court to pay 400,000 yen to a former employee who sued the major chain of language schools after his allowance was cut due to his association with a female student, informed sources said Saturday.
Nichibei Eigo Gakuin case closed
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 05:22
he Unfair Labour Practices Case, filed in December 2003, finally closed on 25 October, with the submissions of the final statements from both sides.
Chris English Masters Kyoto
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 06:01
We often report on the larger schools but here is a report from a smaller school. A long time member recently heard that there were mistakes in pay checks. After reviewing his records, he realised there were errors dating back as far as 5 years.
Shakai Hoken @ Epion Mabuchi
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 06:38
Shakai Hoken has been a hot topic within the union for quite a while now. It became a problem at Epion when a member received a demand from the ward office for two years back payments of Kokumin Kenko Hoken.
Working conditions in free fall at Osaka Gaigo.
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- Published on Saturday, 01 October 2005 00:00
Two rounds of negotiations and numerous informal meetings have been held with OGSG since May, but have proved fruitless. In the past year incomes have been cut and class-loads for contract full-timers have been increased. The second semester saw part-time teachers losing an average of two-classes per week without prior notice.
Berlitz Newsletters
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- Published on Saturday, 13 August 2005 05:46
Check here regularly for our latest Berlitz newsletters. Feel free to download them & distribute them in your workplace. We also have posting rights for all schools so let us know if you would like to pin them up on the school bulletin board.
Small Schools Matter Too
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- Published on Wednesday, 23 May 2012 06:16
Even though the General Union has won many well noted changes in the big eikaiwa chains, we are less well known for dealing with problems at small schools. If you are a union member working at a small school, these following news items should be of interest to you, and help you think of ways that you too can improve your working conditions.
GU wins insurance at Riseisha High School
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 07:42
Our members enquired at their school about Shakai Hoken and were offered two options for their 2005 contract: one with full pay and no enrolment, and the other with enrolment and 55,000 yen cut in salary.
Two Teacher School - Joining before the problem helps secure victory.
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- Published on Friday, 01 April 2005 00:00
A teacher, recognizing that his contract had strange conditions regarding termination, contacted the union and decided to join. The contract stated that those who quit their contracts mid term give up their monthly salary and agree to work for 1,000yen per hour. The union believes that this is not only illegal, but does not achieve the goal of keeping teachers, it only encourages them to quit with little notice.
Kun'ei High School teachers win Health and Pension Rights
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 04:35
The non-renewal of a teacher at Kunei High School gave the union an organizing opportunity which has led to the formation of a union branch.
Kyoto Seika Daigaku
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 04:39
In the last issue of the e-news we reported on a University in Kyoto which was planning to arbitrarily change part-time lecturers' contracts to their disadvantage. We are happy to report that after all the teachers joined the union, and a show of solidarity, Kyoto Seika Daigaku, has pulled back from the changes, for now.
NOVA not enrolling foreign instructors on social insurance
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 05:45
(Translation of Asahi Shimbun report on Nova breaking Shakai Hoken Law)
Late Wages at Lang, Hiroshima
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- Published on Tuesday, 01 March 2005 00:00
The threat of being named in an Unfair Labour Practice Case and civil proceedings has finally got the attention of the “silent” foreign national co-director of Lang.
Kid's English - A city community centre run English class
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- Published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 04:33
Kids'English recently announced an arbitrary pay cut of 20% upon a member.
Big Brother is Watching
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 05:57
Video cameras installed in classrooms at Shin Aoyama Language Center are causing members of management some confusion as they attempt to define their usage to inquisitive instructors.
