G.communications has gone back on its promise to hire all former NOVA teachers who apply, announcing on Christmas Eve that 600 applicants would not be rehired.

Reasons given for the decision include difficulties in reopening schools, and the company’s plans to relocate the Ochanomaryugaku (interactive TV lessons) operation overseas in order to cut costs.

This is an abrupt change from the company which assured union representatives just a week earlier that all applicants would be hired. NOVA teachers who went home for the holidays, expecting to return to work in January, are now reeling from this second betrayal.

NUGW Tokyo Nambu and the General Union will be demanding collective bargaining with G.communications later this week.

Up to 800 foreign language teachers formerly employed by NOVA Corp. will not be hired by the failed English conversation school chain’s new owners.

Officials at Nagoya-based G.communication Group said they are looking into finding employment for around 200 ex-NOVA teachers with affiliate companies, leaving the remaining 600 or so unemployed.

G.communication Group bought out NOVA after it filed for protection from creditors on Oct. 26, leaving the failed conversation chain to go through bankruptcy proceedings exactly one month after its collapse.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20071225p2a00m0na009000c.html