Member Voices: Unreasonable Deadlines – Denied!
My latest interaction with a university I have worked part-time at for approximately 20 years involves the survey they send…
Language Schools
Universities Are Downsizing. Workers Shouldn’t Be Paying the Price
Japan’s universities are entering a difficult period. As the birthrate falls, so does the number of university-aged students. In the…
Protecting Core Conditions
A common question from members who have converted to an unlimited-term contract is whether their employer can now change their…
From Annual Uncertainty to Greater Stability
For many workers in Japan, every contract renewal brings the same question: Will I be offered another contract when this…
The Power of Membership Declaration
Nothing Kendra did was right. She was continuously talked down to, and she was being given meaningless tasks and the…
Power Harassment – When it’s not worth the fight
Anna worked at a private school where she had taught English classes and acted as an international coordinator for 10…
When Questions Become Harassment – A Member’s Story
This case began after I questioned what appeared to be a change in the university’s policy regarding online classes. I…
Power Harassment Part 5 – Privacy Invasion
Jenna* moved to the Japanese countryside with her Japanese husband and their four-year-old daughter last spring. The family began living…
Power Harassment Part 4 – Under Employment
When I first joined my company, things went well. I enjoyed my work, my projects were progressing, and I felt…
Power Harassment Part 3 – Excessive demands
Ben worked at an English school with several locations in Kansai. He fell into a depressive state after being harassed…
Power Harassment Part 2 – Psychological Aggression through Micromanagement
In a business office, Sam is given guidance on his work. He is told that the reports need more data…
Power Harassment Part 1 – Physical Aggression
As mentioned in this month’s introduction summary of workplace harassment, there are six types of harassment recognized under the umbrella…
Our Strategy for Harassment
There are many members who have felt harassed at work one time or another. However, more often than not, harassment…
Let’s Expand the Fight to Win Back Our Pension Rights!
Following the courageous legal action taken by General Union member Fred Ramos, two former Interac employees who are also union…
Stop Wage Theft: Why We’re Doing This Together
You stayed late again. You worked through your break again. You answered emails at home, marked papers after hours, showed…