How does a workplace go from one isolated union member to winning a significant pay rise in just a few months? Let us tell you a story about what happened at one international school in Japan.

It started with a single member attending our Individual Organising Training. There, he learned something crucial – talking to co-workers about joining a union isn’t as daunting as it might seem. After speaking with two colleagues, they decided to take the next step: our Workplace Organising Training (ask us about this at union@generalunion.org).

This training taught them how to strategically reach out to their co-workers and effectively communicate the union message. The results were remarkable. Within weeks, they had organised a significant portion of their workplace.

The momentum kept building. Within two months, we were able to formally declare the union’s presence and submit our demands to management. Then something interesting happened. Just hours before our scheduled collective bargaining session, the school called an all-staff meeting. Despite claims of financial hardship, they announced a ¥12,000 monthly pay increase for all staff.

Do you think the school is going to credit the union for this sudden generosity? Of course not. But the timing – just hours before our first collective bargaining session – speaks volumes. Our members achieved a significant victory without even entering the ring.

Now, we should be clear – not every organising drive will move this quickly or achieve results this dramatically. But this story illustrates what’s possible when workers overcome their hesitation and take that first step toward organising.

If you’re looking to improve your working conditions, you owe it to yourself to explore what organising could do at your workplace. Sometimes, the hardest part is just getting started.
Take our Individual Organising Training

Already have a few people interested: contact us to set up your specialised “Workplace Organising Training”