Challenging Bogus Freelancing in the Eikaiwa Industry
One of General Union’s most important areas of work in 2025 was confronting the widespread misclassification of English teachers as…
No More Ticking Around: Holding Clock Accountable
In our recent article, we outlined what good faith looks like in the private language industry. Unfortunately, not every company…
Big Company or Small, Eikaiwa Workers Deserve Good Faith
Over the past year, we’ve seen a sharp rise in the number of teachers contacting us from smaller English conversation…
AEON Online and the Push for Fair Contracts in a Shifting Industry
It’s not unusual for companies to change with the times. In the language education industry, it’s essential to update pedagogy…
ECC Teachers Deserve Better: Expand Sick Leave!
Teaching English requires dedication, compassion, and professionalism. Every day, ECC teachers put their health and energy into delivering exceptional education…
Celebrating Women in Leadership in General Union!
In a time when workers’ rights are under attack, the power of collective action is more crucial than ever. As…
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Your Rights at Work
Want ￥12,000 a Month? Organise a Union!
How does a workplace go from one isolated union member to winning a significant pay rise in just a few…
General Union and Supporting Workers in Transition
The Japanese EFL landscape offers opportunities as varied as the teachers it attracts. Some seek cultural immersion, while others bring…
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Elementary, Junior, and Senior High Schools
Industrial & Commercial
International Schools
IT/Tech
Language Schools
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Standing Together, Winning Together: From Your Workplace to Across Japan
From language schools to universities to international schools and all across Japan, the General Union had a fantastic year improving…
Standing Together Against Job Losses: A Case Study
The Goethe-Institut dispute in Kansai demonstrates how solidarity and collective action can challenge unfair restructuring. When the Institute announced plans…
GU Members Show Up Against Yamaguchi Gakuen in Court
On October 10, ten of the General Union’s members, family, and friends came to support their fellow member and the…
Groundbreaking 3-year Wage Deal at ECC!
With a falling yen and rising inflation, ECC branch members demanded better than their standard raise of 1% or less…
Persistence Pays Off: How One Union Branch Changed the Narrative
General Union members at a vocational school (senmon gakko) had been fighting an uphill battle for years, demanding fair bonuses…
How Nine Union Members Transformed Their Workplace: General Union ALC Branch Wins Big Victory
In a remarkable demonstration of what dedication, unity, and strategic action can achieve, the General Union’s ALC branch has secured…
Union Membership Yields Swift Results for Hardworking Teacher
In a recent case that highlights the power of organized labor, a dedicated teacher’s decision to join a union led…