A very brief history

The Nova Union of Teachers was formed in September 1994 as a direct and immediate reaction to a direct attack by Nova on the human rights of teachers. Nova had the audacity to demand that all teachers undergo compulsory drug testing. The Union was born into an atmosphere of total outrage that Nova, or any company, could try to act in that way and take that kind of attitude to its employees. The Union forced Nova into a humiliating about face. As a further result, Nova had unwittingly (or perhaps witlessly) generated the energy for change of the Unionfs first few years.
The Union was very active in its early days and a lot of good things were achieved. At that time Nova was also breaking the law over paid holiday entitlements that were below the legal minimum. The union fought for and won a substantial improvement in entitlement to bring it into line with the law. [If you want to know more about the Unionfs past glories, please browse through the website archives.]
After the big issues were over though, much of the energy dissipated and the Union became weaker as membership levels fell and membership activity declined.

A new start

We are right now, September 2003, at the start of a new era for the Union, almost exactly nine years after its inception. On 31st August three new executive committee members were appointed, the President, Vice-President and Treasurer. On 20th September this new website was launched. The new executive would like to regenerate some of that energy of the early years.
Perhaps we donft have such enormous issues these days, but then perhaps we do. Big improvements and small improvements, they can both make your working experience better. If you are a Nova employee you can join the Union and help create the agenda that Nova will have to listen to. Nova is showing signs of weakness right now. Theyfve overstretched themselves and teacher numbers are way below quotas. Poor working conditions continuously encourage teachers to quit and Nova is failing to recruit replacements fast enough. It sounds like the time is right for some substantial improvements in working conditions and the company knows it too.
And if our working conditions improve we can provide a better service to the students, our customers. Wefre happier, the customers are happier, the company should be happier, right? Everybody benefits.

Tell us what you think and what you want

As part of the process we want you to tell us your opinions. Send us some good feedback. Evaluate your school and your working conditions - you could write it and mail it to us. What changes would you like to see? They can big or small, it doesnft matter - tell us.
And of course we want you to join with us to help make it happen.

 

A letter from a fellow union

First Victory!! Labor Dispute at the Kokusai High School

Dear NUGW members,
On September 3, 2003, the Tokyo Bureau of Education agreed to recognize
the decision of the Shinagawa Labor Standards Office to grant all
assistant language teachers of English in Tokyo public high schools paid
days off in accordance with the Japanese Labor Standards Law. This was
in response to an appeal filed by Douglas Marvin, president of the Union
of Foreign Teachers of Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School in Komaba,
Meguro-ku. The appeal was filed in September 2002 with the assistance
of Hirohiko Takasu, Secretary General of NUGW Tokyo South.
Each ALT will be informed of the details of the decision in writing in
October of this year. The payment for days off is retroactive to April
2002.
It is good that the Tokyo Bureau of Education has taken this step to
recognize the fact that the sons and daughters of Tokyo taxpayers
deserve to be taught by teachers who are covered by the Labor Standards
Law.
The Union of Foreign Teachers of Kokusai High is most grateful to
Takasu-san, Miyazato-sensei and Ichikawa-san without whose aid this
could not have been accomplished. We ask everyone for continued support
and guidance as our struggle moves forward.
The Union of Foreign Teachers of Kokusai High

Update: Union of Foreign Teachers at Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School
 -- an affiliate of National Union of General Workers, Tokyo South (Nambu)--

Commission rules in favor, says school must negotiate with teachers!
The Tokyo Local Labor Relations Commission on Nov. 26 handed down a redress injunction for unfair labor practices. gTokyo Metropolitan Government must agree to collective bargaining talks in good faith whenever the union demands collective bargaining talks to discuss terms of employment of English-language and other instructors who are foreign nationals and union members.h
The Union of Foreign Teachers at Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School won an important victory on Nov. 26 in an ongoing dispute at the Tokyo Local Labor Relations Commission over the refusal to negotiate with the union. The injunction demands that Tokyo Metropolitan Government negotiate in good faith. This is the first step, after a long struggle, towards a decisive victory.
Foreign national instructors at Tokyo Kokusai High School formed a union in May 2000. Since the last collective bargaining talks in October 2000, however, the Tokyo Board of Education, refused any negotiations, asserting that gForeign English-language and other instructors are not technically workers because they are on special ei-ninf or eproxyf contracts.h
After establishing the actual working conditions of the foreign instructors employed on the gproxyh contracts, the labor commission recognized their status as workers and ordered Tokyo Metropolitan Government to hold collective bargaining talks in good faith. The board also recognized Tokyofs obligation to negotiate improving the terms of employment for the next academic year for those yet without contracts.
This is a crucial ruling in light of the soaring number of local government employees without worker status or with non-standard worker status. We will continue to lobby the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Tokyo metropolitan assembly in our fight to stop Tokyo Metropolitan Government from committing unfair labor practices. We count on your continued support.
National Union of General Workers, Tokyo South (Nambu)
Union of Foreign Teachers at Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School
Kobayashi Bldg. 2nd Floor5-17-7 Shimbashi, Minato Ward
@@@@@@@@@@@Tokyo 104-0004 Japan
Tel:03-3434-0669^Fax:03-3433-0334^E-mail:nugw_ts@jca.apc.org