Tozen Union and other unions in the Hiseiki Shunto Alliance demanded that Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) stop exploiting those working on fixed-term, temporary, day-labor, short-hour, outsourcing and other contracts lacking job or income security.
The contingent workers unions staged a protest in front of federation’s Tokyo headquarters in front of several major news outlets before then moving to a press conference on the ninth floor of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labor.
In April of 2020, the Japanese government amended local civil service law, reclassifying direct hire ALTs at public schools as “fiscal year appointees.” This so-called reform stripped these ALTs, and all others who labour under the new classification, of their trade union rights. Fiscal year appointees in the new system can no longer demand collective bargaining, conclude agreements with management, or enter into labour disputes. As a result, our ALTs who work for the Tokyo Board of Education were stripped of their right to collective bargaining.
~Avis de licenciement adressé au personnel de la cafétéria qui préparait les repas des élèves depuis des décennies…
En décembre 2022, deux membres de la branche UPL du syndicat Tozen, qui préparaient depuis longtemps les repas pour de nombreux élèves à la cafétéria du Lycée Français International de Tokyo (LFIT), ont soudainement perdu leur emploi l’année dernière.
On Sunday, January 29, Tozen Union, our legal team, and our supporters held a rally to launch our campaign to restore Trade Union Rights to Direct Hire ALTs.
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.
Tozen Union demanded that Tokyo Board of Education meet for collective bargaining in July of 2020. The board refused, and the union sued in Tokyo Labour commission. The case was dismissed late last year in light of the legal amendment. Tozen plans to sue in court to overturn this unconstitutional decision. Our goal is to restore trade union rights not only for fiscal-year appointees, but all civil servants.
We need your help.
Please contact case officer Gerome Rothman at tozen.rothman@gmail.com to find out what you can do.