Can I Distribute Union Materials in the Workplace Without my Employer’s Permission?
Some employers stipulate in their employment regulations that “employees need prior permission to hold meetings, speeches, or distribute written material…
Advance Application for Taking Annual Paid Leave: How Many Days Notice is Really Necessary?
Many companies require workers to apply any number of days, weeks, months in advance for annual paid leave in their…
Qualified Invoice Issuer: What English Teachers Need to Know
You may have heard from your company by now about QII (Qualified Invoice Issuer), a new system that allows companies…
To NDA Or To NOT NDA ?
Whether you work for an Eikawa, an international school, at a university or any other kind of language school, you…
A Unionist’s Qualms with Quiet Quitting
A Unionist’s Qualms with Quiet Quitting By Fredrick Henley Quiet quitting – the act of putting in the least amount…
A Cool 50: GU end-of-summer University Campaign – Hands Off Our Koma! Don’t touch!
Part-time GU members at 50 universities and colleges are demanding that their employers do not cut any koma (lessons) from…
Word to the Wise: Don’t Offer to Quit!
“Dear General Union, Yesterday at work, I was called into my manager’s office and we had an argument over a…
Unlimited Term Contracts at Universities and Colleges
Unlimited Term Contract Application: http://gu.generalunion.org/UTCapplication. Did you know that as of 2018, those having worked continuously for five years at the…
Labor Standards Inspection Office (LSO) Should Not Encourage Employers Who Do Not Follow the Law
The Beginning In 2020, when the first wave of COVID-19 swept through Japan, a General Union member was working for…
“Know Your Rights” Seminar, a Great Success
Thanks to all of you who made our "Know Your Rights" Seminar a big success. Sixty union and non-union members from around the…
GU Public Seminars – Know Your Rights at Work
The union will be holding open online seminars for members and non-members on Sunday, 20 March from 14:00 to 16:30.…
“Poor Sales” Doesn’t Cut it When Your Job is On the Line!
“I was told by my company yesterday that they are firing me. When I asked my manager why, she said…
My Performance is Bad? Prove it!
“My boss recently called me into a meeting and gave me 30 days’ notice that I will be terminated. His…
Non-renewal? 30 Days Notice – No Less!
Recently, a union member at a large, prominent eikaiwa was thrown a curve ball: for a variety of factors, this…
Hands Off! Don’t Touch Our Koma! – Updated
Union begins survey of union members in preparation to defend 2022 koma. Non-members also welcome to take the survey. Every…