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…
Language Schools
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…
HOOK: Hands Off Our Koma – Part 2: Leveraging Labour Laws
In our previous article, we introduced the HOOK Campaign and its proactive approach to protecting part-time instructors’ jobs. Now, let’s…
1 October Shakai Hoken Expansion: Are You Covered? Check Now!
As of 1 October 2024, more workers than ever are eligible for Shakai Hoken (Employee Health and Pension Insurance). The…
HOOK: Hands Off Our Koma – Part 1: A Decade of Proactive Defence
Since 2010, the General Union has been running the HOOK (Hands Off Our Koma) Campaign to prevent universities from reducing…
Tech Workers’ Rights Presentation Now Available
The tech industry is rapidly evolving, but workers’ rights remain constant. Our ‘Tech Workers’ Rights: Empower Yourself’ presentation offers a…
Shobyo Teate: Your Financial Lifeline During Illness or Injury
Are you enrolled in Employee Health and Pension Insurance (Shakai Hoken)? If not, you might be missing out on a…
Big Change in Health and Pension Insurance is Coming
From October 2024, companies with 51 or more employees already enrolled in Shakai Hoken will be required to enroll additional…
General Union Sues Yamaguchi Gakuen in Osaka District Court
On October 10, the General Union continues our battle at Yamaguchi Gakuen to recover the wages and benefits of our…
Shakai Hoken, a Financial Lifesaver for Unexpected Surgery
How Japan’s High-Cost Medical Expense System caps out-of-pocket costs, eases financial burden, and allows patients to focus on recovery I…
Symposium 2024: Japan, Country of Choice for Foreign Workers?
The General Union presents the 2024 hybrid symposium. All are welcome to join us on Zoom or in person at…
A Tale of Two Teachers: Why Employment Status Matters
Ellie and Maria, both excited to teach English in Japan, joined ECC and NOVA, respectively. Little did they know how…
Fighting for Job Security: General Union’s Battle in Higher Education
The General Union is leading a crucial fight for employment security in Japan’s higher education sector. Our ongoing legal battles…
General Union Takes Stand for University and College Workers’ Rights
The General Union is at the forefront of protecting workers’ rights in the university and college sector, including those employed…
Kyoto International School’s Dismissal Raises Alarming Questions
The General Union is challenging Kyoto International School (KIS) over the sudden dismissal of a long-serving teacher, highlighting concerns about…