GU in Japan for Foreign Workers
As an Assistant Language Teacher, Dispatch Teacher, and/or Eikaiwa Teacher, you have rights and protections – afforded to you by your organization and the government.
By joining a union, you can protect yourself and improve/sustain your working conditions in case anything goes downhill. Joining the General Union is relatively easy and is based on salary. The benefits gladly outweigh the cost of monthly dues (¥500 – ¥5,000).
From personal experience, I wish I would have known about the General Union sooner as I did not have great working conditions under my dispatch and Eikaiwa group. I believe a labor union would have saved me some stress and improved my working conditions.
Contents:
What is the General Union?
The General Union: ” is a legally registered labour/trade union, part of the Japanese labour union movement, and we are open to workers of any category or nationality. Since it was founded in 1991, our union has established a solid reputation for protecting its members’ rights and improving their working conditions. We are workers like you who have joined together to protect our livelihoods and rights as workers. As a union, we are able to provide our members advice on workplace issues, and we actively help our members to organize and negotiate in their workplaces.
The General Union is part of a national private sector trade union known as the National Union of General Workers (Zenkoku-Ippan). We belong to a confederation known as Zenrokyo (National Trade Union Council).”
The union provides a lot of benefits for its members, especially to those at private companies like ECC who’s “management repeatedly rejected workers’ demands centered on employee health, pay, and mandatory “holiday make-up” workdays.” And, ensuring that Eikiawas give time off to safeguard their employees against Covid-19 with paid leave to receive their vaccinations.
GU has a total of three branches across Japan – Tokyo, Fukuoka, Nagoya Tokai. And, it’s a democratic organization run by its members. Executive Officers hold Executive Committee Meetings at least once a month where members can participate.
Who can join?
The General Union is open to everyone – “members are teachers and staff at conversation schools, public and private schools, and universities. However, our union is open to any full-time or part-time worker regardless of nationality.”
Harsh reality of Japan
This is very beneficial as companies will repeatedly take advantage of low-income workers.
Japan isn’t always fun and games with anime, internet cafes, and mass transit. In the news, people from Southern Asia are treated especially poorly with harsh conditions and abuse in some areas of Japan where, yes, some of this labor is equivalent to human trafficking.
How can the GU help me and my coworkers?
“We help by offering advice and concrete support on how you and your coworkers can form and run a union branch at your school or company…When you and your coworkers are ready, experienced Japanese and foreign members of the General Union will assist you in negotiating collective agreements with your company.”
Once you are ready to form a potential union, the GU will assist you in collective bargaining measures with your employer. You might even have a union already available at the company you are going to work for.
For example, the GU fighting for the rights of David Waddell, a person suffering from cancer who was forced by his employer Kyoto Gaidai University to take unpaid leave instead of allowing him to finish his classes online. He was later fired with no compensation for his loss. However, the General Union is fighting for him with other members to see he is treated right.
Membership duties
There are only 3 duties required of members by GU.
- Keeping your dues paid up to date, and paying by an automatic process such as checkoff, bank debit, or PayPal transfer.
- Participating in your own branch, attending your branch meetings and branch annual general meeting.
- Supporting fellow union members (from all union branches) who are in dispute with their employer.
Union dues
The amount for dues is relatively low for the services provided such as lawyers and native speakers assisting union members. Furthermore, it is possible to have dues deducted from your monthly salary depending on your employer.
Could I be fired for joining?
No, unless you are a non-union member or not paying dues; however, as a member, it is unlikely for a company to come after you and your union for complaining about poor working conditions to them.
“Most companies are reluctant to pick a fight with a strong union. Since the General Union was formed, we have had a small number of cases involving the firing or non-renewal of union members – almost all of which have resulted in reinstatement or satisfactory settlements. On the other hand, we regularly receive calls from non-union members who have been fired or not renewed. An employer can fire a non-union worker for complaining about their pay and conditions. On the other hand, a union member whose union raises the same issues in negotiations is protected by Article 28 of the Constitution and Article 7 of the Trade Union Law.“
Yes, there is a case for being fired if not a union member. If you become a member, it is advantageous to use your rights and protections guaranteed to you by the GU.
Improvement of life for everyone
Unions have a reputation for winning for their members; it’s rare that a union loses a case against an employer or gets them fired. GU has a reputation for winning legal battles for, “entitled paid holidays, the end of contract limits, unfair dismissals, payment of unpaid wages and overtime, and pay increases.”
Why unions?
Joining a union can ensure that you and your coworkers are entitled to fair pay. A company or organization can’t operate without its workers. The General Union considers the following to be a fair deal/share that should be upheld within the workplace. Employees should not have to suffer under unfair conditions and terrible benefits
- Regular pay rises
- A work environment that promotes professional development and quality education
- Paid National Holidays
- At least 10 flexible paid vacation days per year
- Contracts without artificial one-year term limits
- No arbitrary/unfair dismissals or non-renewals
- Overtime pay if you work more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week
- No discrimination based on nationality, race, language, gender, age, or sexual orientation
- Paid maternity and paternity leave
- Regular payment of wages in full on a set date
- Enrollment in Unemployment Insurance
For information about the General Union, check out their contact page for more information and how to get in touch with them for consultation. Even if you have no intention of joining, it is always invaluable information to have for your future employment, especially those out of the JET Program.
