Tozen Daigakus are back with our first video by Gerome Rothman.
In this short Tozen Daigaku Gerome discusses the use of AI when it comes to consultations.
Tozen reaches deal with Shane over union-busting wages
TOKYO – The Tozen Union has successfully reached a settlement with Shane Corporation at the Central Labor Commission, resolving a long-standing dispute regarding wage discrimination against union members who participated in industrial action.
The Core Dispute
The conflict originated when three union members were awarded significantly smaller pay raises than their colleagues. The Tozen Union filed a complaint with the Tokyo Labor Commission, alleging that management had unfairly targeted these individuals for their participation in strikes.
The investigation revealed that Shane Corporation had categorized strike days as “absences,” a metric that heavily influenced the calculation of annual wage increases.
Commission Rulings and Appeals
In its initial ruling, the Tokyo Labor Commission found in favor of the union, determining that penalizing employees for engaging in protected labor activities was unlawful. The company was ordered to:
- Reimburse the members for lost wages.
- Adjust their current salary levels to reflect what they would have earned without the penalty.
Shane Corporation initially appealed this decision to the Central Labor Commission, the higher appellate body for labor disputes in Japan.
The Final Settlement
During the appellate proceedings, the Central Labor Commission mediated a deal between the two parties. To avoid a formal verdict from the higher commission, Shane Corporation agreed to a settlement that satisfies the union’s primary demands.
Settlement Terms:
- Full Back Pay: Management has completed the reimbursement of lost wages to all three affected members.
- Wage Normalization: The company will permanently adjust the members’ wages moving forward to ensure parity with their peers.
- No Final Verdict: By accepting the settlement, management avoids a formal legal precedent being set by the Central Labor Commission, while still fulfilling the corrective actions.
The Tozen Union has signaled this as a victory for the right to strike, reinforcing the principle that legitimate labor actions cannot be used as a basis for financial retaliation.
“We Live Here, We Work Here: Fiscal Year Appointees on the Front Lines” Symposium – Sunday February 1 at 2PM.
「ここにいる、ここで働く私たち会計年度任用職員最前線」シンポジウム（2月1日（日）午後2時）
On Sunday, February 1 at 2PM, Tozen Union and Kokkyo Ippan Union will hold a symposium about the Fiscal Year Appointees System. The symposium will be held at the Tokyo Rodo Kaikan Rapas Hall on the 7F. Directions are below.
2月1日（日）午後2時より、東京労働会館7階ラパスホールにて、東ゼン労組と東京公務公共一般労働組合（公共一般）は合同で、会計年度任用職員制度についてのシンポジウムを開催します。
In April 2020, local civil service law was amended and direct hire ALTs around the country were classified as “fiscal-year appointees.” Prior to this change, direct hire ALTs had the right to join a union and demand collective bargaining. This so-called “reform” stripped them of those basic labour rights.
2020年4月、地方公務員法の改正により、全国の直接雇用ALTは「会計年度任用職員」に切り替えられました。 それまで直接雇用ALTは労働組合への加入権と団体交渉権を有していました。 このいわゆる「改革」により、彼らはこうした労働基本権を剥奪されました。
On January 29, 2026 Tokyo District Court will announce its verdict on this case. At this symposium we will debrief the 1.29 verdict, study the Fiscal Year Appointees System and learn about Kokkyo Ippan Union’s case involving the termination of school counsellors who were appointed in this system.
1月29日、東京地裁においてこのALT訴訟事件の判決が言い渡されます。このシンポジウムでは、この判決についての報告と、同じく会計年度職員であるスクールカウンセラーの雇止め事件(公共一般）について学びます。
The symposium will feature panel discussions including both legal teams, plaintiff ALT Union members Tony Dolan and Mary Dougherty, and a talk from Noriko Seyama of Hamunet to explain the new system.
シンポジウムでは、東ゼンと公共一般の弁護団、ALT支部の組合員であるトニー・ドーランとメアリー・ダガティによるパネルディスカッション、そして瀬山紀子さん（公務非正規女性全国ネットワーク/ はむねっと）の講演も行われます。
Everyone is welcome to attend in person or via Zoom. Please see the attached leaflet for details.
当日は会場とZoomのどちらでも参加もできます。詳細は添付のチラシをご覧ください。
Directions to the Tokyo Rodo Kaikan (7F) 東京労働会館（7階ラパスホール）はこちらhere.
Zoom link Zoomリンクはこちら here. (ID and password on attached leaflet. IDとパスワードはチラシをご覧ください)
We look forward to seeing you at both of these important events.
皆さまのご参加を心よりお待ちしています。
In Solidarity,
Gerome Rothman
Organizer
Tozen Union
——————————-
You can read all the court documents and donate to our campaign here.
裁判書類の閲覧とキャンペーンへの寄付はこちらからどうぞ。
For more information, contact case officer Gerome Rothman by e-mailing tozen.rothman@gmail.com.
詳細については、担当ジェローム・ロスマンまでお問い合わせください。
(tozen.rothman@gmail.com）
Tozen Member Secures Landmark Victory at Tokyo High Court
The Tokyo High Court has handed down a decisive ruling in favor of Tozen Union member Steven Ritchie, confirming that the Tokyo International French School (Lycée Français International de Tokyo) violated Japanese labor law by imposing unpaid work beyond his contractual hours.
On November 27, 2025, the High Court fully upheld the earlier District Court judgment, ruling that:
- Steven’s legally prescribed working hours were 8:15–15:15, Monday to Friday, totaling 27 hours per week,
- Any duties performed outside these hours—including meetings, APC activities, and other administrative requirements—constituted working time that must be paid under Japanese law,
- The school’s allegations that Steven had refused professional duties were unsupported by any evidence,
- The school had wrongfully withheld paid leave and improperly deducted wages.
The Court ordered the institution to pay all outstanding wages and statutory penalties.
This ruling establishes a clear and far-reaching precedent:
Foreign schools operating in Japan must comply with Japanese labor standards. Internal regulations, foreign ministry assumptions, and imported employment customs do not override Japanese law.
Steven expressed gratitude for the union’s continued support throughout the multi-year legal battle and pledged a donation to Tozen to help further defend the rights of educators and foreign workers across Japan.
“This decision affirms that no school—international or otherwise—is above Japanese law. I’m deeply thankful to Tozen Union for standing with me every step of the way,” said Steven following the judgment.
Tozen Union congratulates Steven on this significant achievement.
This victory not only rectifies years of unpaid labor but also strengthens protections for all educators working in Japan’s international and foreign-affiliated schools.
When workers stand together, we win.
Begunto leafleting action 2025/11/27 Shinjuku
On Thursday, 29 November, Tozen’s Begunto Union held a leafleting action in Shinjuku.
Berlitz teachers strike for higher wages, better conditions
9 November 2025
Berlitz Japan teachers entered dispute Sunday, November 9, demanding an 8% pay hike, other financial demands, and reduced observations of classes. Begunto (Berlitz General Union Tokyo) had struck earlier in the year but came to an early resolution.
Begunto and Berlitz Japan held several collective bargaining and off-record meetings to try to resolve the issue, but management refused to budge on any financial demands and didn’t concede enough on non-financial demands. The union also demanded more paid sick days, more paid prep time, fair and transparent scheduling and a better Happy Monday policy.
“They can underpay us and treat us well or pay us well and treat us poorly,” General Secretary Phil Eisenstat said about management. “But they can’t do both. And they have been doing so for years.”
J. Rudd, Begunto’s financial officer added, “We’ve negotiated for six months, and management refuses our demands for dignified pay, treatment, and work conditions.”
Tozen Union’s Constitutional Challenge to anti-union Fiscal-Year Appointees Law Moves to Verdict
会計年度任用職員制度に対する東ゼン労組の違憲訴訟、判決へ
On Thursday, October 23, 2025, Tokyo District Court conducted the final hearing in Tozen Union’s case to restore the trade union rights of direct hire ALTs. Our case moves to verdict, which will be announced on Thursday January 29, 2026 at 13:30.
2025年10月23日（木）、東京地裁において、直接雇用ALT（外国語指導助手）の労働基本権回復を求める東ゼン労組の訴訟の最終弁論が行われた。判決は2026年1月29日（木）午後1時半に言い渡される。
Victoire au tribunal contre LFIT
Chers et Chères Membres,
J’espère que tout le monde profite de ce temps chaud.
Pour ajouter au beau temps, nous avons remporté une nouvelle victoire aujourd’hui contre la direction du LFIT, cette fois au tribunal de district de Tokyo. La plupart de nos demandes ont été acceptées à 100% par le tribunal, qui a même décidé que l’école devait payer 90% des frais de justice (pas les frais d’avocat). Il est clair que le tribunal n’a pas accepté l’argument du LFIT selon lequel les heures de travail de Steven étaient en réalité de 40 heures par semaine, alors que le contrat indique 27 heures. Le tribunal n’a pas non plus accepté l’argument de l’école selon lequel elle pouvait suivre la coutume française en dépit de la loi japonaise.
「非正規春闘」賃上げ求めスト 10社以上で、10％以上獲得を
アルバイトや契約社員らの10％以上の賃上げ獲得を今春闘で目指す「非正規春闘」の実行委員会は10日、要求に十分に応じていない飲食チェーンや講師派遣会社などに対してストライキを実施したと発表した。実行委は3月末までに今回を含め10社以上に対してストライキを実施する予定としている。
実行委は144社と10自治体に賃上げを要求。ストライキの参加者は全体で100人規模に上る見込み。10日は東京都中央区の外国語講師派遣事業会社の前に講師ら約20人が集まり「賃上げを認めろ」とシュプレヒコールを上げた。
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/b34d4b8309f1195f5a24c67d977a05c1c266a15c
Commission Orders Lycée Français to negotiate with Tozen
February 26, the Tokyo Labor Commission ordered Lycée Français International de Tokyo to stop refusing to negotiate with Tozen Union and its local Union des Personnels du Lycée Français international de Tokyo(UPL). The school had refused to discuss any demand that had been previously discussed and any demand that it said should only be discussed by the HR Committee.
The labor commission ruled that this constitutes an illegal refusal to negotiate, an unfair labor practice under Article 7 of the Trade Union Act.
The ruling rejected the school’s argument that even though it refused to negotiate, there was “no need for redress” since management subsequently negotiated. The commission also ordered the school to write a letter to Tozen Union and the UPL promising not to do it again.
Chers et Chères Membres de UPL
J’espère que tout le monde se porte bien.
① J’aimerais vous faire part de l’évolution de notre affaire de pratiques de travail déloyales devant la Commission du travail de Tokyo. Le 26 février 2025, nous avons reçu un verdict favorable. La commission a estimé que le Lycée français international de Tokyo avait commis des pratiques déloyales de travail en refusant de négocier sur des questions décidées par le CRH et sur des questions déjà discutées. La commission a également ordonné à l’école de nous envoyer une lettre promettant de ne pas recommencer.
« La défenderesse, le Lycée Français international de Tokyo, doit remettre la lettre suivante au Zenkoku Ippan Tokyo General Union et au Zenkoku Ippan Tokyo General Union Union des Personnels du Lycée Français international de Tokyo dans un délai d’une semaine à compter de la réception de la présente ordonnance :
A : Président exécutif Hifumi Okunuki, Zenkoku Ippan Tokyo General Union, et Président exécutif Nerea Chica, Zenkoku Ippan Tokyo General Union des Personnels du Lycée Français international de Tokyo,
De : Claudia Scherer-Effosse, Lycée Français international de Tokyo,
La Commission du travail de Tokyo a certifié que notre organisation 1) a refusé de négocier avec vos syndicats lors de la session de négociation collective du 8 octobre 2021, répondant à l’ordre du jour demandé par vos syndicats en disant des choses telles que c’est une question qui doit être délibérée par le Comité des ressources humaines (CRH), et nous pouvons vous répondre après qu’il ait délibéré et pris une décision globale ; et a commis une pratique de travail déloyale en répondant pendant la négociation collective seulement que nous avons déjà répondu à cette question.
Nous veillerons à ne pas répéter l’infraction susmentionnée.’
Le défendeur fera rapidement rapport à cette commission du travail après s’être acquitté de l’obligation susmentionnée.»
La direction du LFIT n’a pas envoyé la lettre requise. Il est possible que la direction envisage de faire appel de la décision. Cette victoire est le fruit d’un effort collectif. Merci à toutes les personnes impliquées.