Author Archive for member63

On March 26th, Union representatives attented SHUNTO Collective Bargaining at Berlitz Japan Headquarters. Our 2012 demands are very similar to last year’s. Changes are outlined and explained below.

1) The company reinstate Walter Fahnestock and pay all back pay.

2) Company implement a 3% base up pay hike for all employees. (Last year we asked for 2.3%. Previously having asked for and struck for 4.6%, then we lowered our demand because of the bad economy and business situation. However, this year showed good profits- a memo publicly posted for employees stated this- so we increased our demand to reflect this).

3) The company pay a month’s bonus for all employees. (Last year we asked that “The company introduce a bonus system based on lesson volume – one month’s salary for every 10% annual increase in lesson volume, pro-rated accordingly.” This year’s demand is less complicated to impliment and understand.)

4) Company retract the warning letters regarding industrial action issued to those who struck after Nov 10, 2008.

5) Company disclose quarterly profit/loss statements and annual balance sheets to union. (Berlitz maintains that it’s a private company and had no obligation to reveal any information, but a Union negotiator remembers them doing so in the past. The Union’s stance is that it would consider adjusting it’s demands based on the financial state of the company.)

6) Company maintain former pension enrolment criteria irrespective of Shakai Hoken enrollment.

7) Company negotiate with and obtain consent of Betunto before implementing any policy change or initiating any new policy.

8 ) Company immediately re-enroll all teachers kicked off Shakai Hoken or private pension scheme.

9) Company enroll all employees who wish to be in Shakai Hoken.

10) Company drop civil court case against the union executives and unions and withdraw the appeal which they made to the higher courts, upon losing the case in the Tokyo Court in Feb 2012.

11) Company pay five minute intervals before and after each scheduled unit of work at instructor’s rate

The Management’s side seemed more willing to negotiate at first, but still insisted on using Japanese only, and refused to allow their translator to translate for the Union side. They claimed that we have members who can speak Japanese. The Union maintains that the main language has always been English, and many members can’t understand Japanese. Therefore, so we’d like to continue using English. The Union representatives attended as negotiators, not translators. Management’s lawyers continue to pressure the Union to change its policy and established practice.

The lawyers gave responses in Japanese to the demands we submitted in English, so by the end of the collective bargaining session, the Union executive is unclear about the meanings. We therefore asked for them written down in English, which we were promised at a later date.

several notes: Regarding being paid in the 5 minute breaks, the company maintains that we must write the goals and fill in the finished points during the lesson, at the end, thus enabling the teacher to be totally free during their ‘five minute break.’ The Union points out that it’s not just that:
-counselors often want to talk to teachers about students
-teachers have to get sample text books for students
-explain the last point to other teacher’s they’re handing off to
- talk to a supervisor about schedule changes or other issues
- find the correct material and file everything away properly, and more.
Therefore, we are doing work. Management can’t tell us that it’s not work and then tell us to do the work and not get paid.

Regarding the ‘base up,’ the company states that teachers are paid enough, and also that since the company can’t raise student tuition, it can’t justify giving teachers bonuses or raises. The Union points out that the performance pay scales were ‘halved,’ so whereas in the past there may have been a increase in 10 yen per pay scale, there’s now an increase of 5 yen per pay scale.

The Management side did not make any counter proposals, offers, consessions, or compromises to the Union.

Please take a look at our poll to the right under the calendar, and vote anonymously on “Do you always have a full five minutes to relax between classes?”