Flash Demo at Berlitz Omiya Branch

Teachers Disciplined For Trivial Reasons

The disrequest system at Berlitz is just one example of threats to job security faced by teachers in the eikaiwa industry. HR representatives claim that a pattern of complaints concerning any particular instructor can lead to discipline, and that six to eight official disrequests over a period of two years is enough to constitute a pattern.

Given that teachers may meet hundreds of students and teach thousands of lessons over the period of a year, added to the fact that complaints can be based on anything from the teacher’s facial expression (“she didn’t smile”) to completely subjective judgements (“we weren’t a good match”), the unfairness of this standard is immediately apparent.

The union cannot allow teachers to face discipline, and potential threats to their livelihood, based on such standards. BEGUNTO will continue to fight for job security both at Berlitz, and throughout the industry.

Informal talks to be held with management tomorrow.

Today, Oct. 31, Nambu NIC-Lakeland Branch received an express mail containing a signed and hanko-ed “Good Faith Agreement” with management. The agreement, sealed by management, Nambu and the branch, is a historic first labor-management agreement between the union and management, important more perhaps for its symbolism than its content.

It states that the company, the union (Nambu) and the branch will “negotiate in good faith.” We hope this agreement will be the basis for future labor management agreements of substance.

Currently, the branch is fighting for open-ended employment to replace the current fixed-term employment of 362-day contracts. Management has offered open-ended employment but at a cost of massive loss of holidays and increased workload. Jimu-sessho (informal talks) are to be held tomorrow in a 2-plus-2 format, with Nambu Special Executive Kentaro Noda and I representing our side while Attorney Tsuyoshi Fujioka and one manager represent NIC. Unconfirmed rumors have it that President Nagai himself may show up to the jimu-sessho.

Meanwhile, NIC has taken an openly hostile stance toward the union, sending out a written work order prohibiting the use of any company facilities or equipment for union-related activity.