東ゼン労組・JCFL講師の有給休暇を東京高裁で勝ち取る

2020年1月29日(水)、東京高裁で行われた日本外国語専門学校(JCFL)で働く東ゼン労組の組合員による有給休暇の紛争をめぐった控訴裁判で判決がおりた。学校側は、時給制で働く講師たちに対し有給休暇の付与を拒否しており、一学期毎の契約であるため次の学期の契約を結ぶ際に、雇用は継続せずに中断する。従って、有給休暇取得の権利はないとの主張していた。

しかし、今回の裁判で高裁は、2018年11月の東京地方裁判所の命令を維持した。

高裁は、この雇用は継続しているとし、法律に則った最低限の年次有給休暇を割り当てるよう命令を下した。そのため学校側は、講師が既に取得した有給休暇分と、未払い分の遅延利息を支払わなければならない。

しかしこれまで経営側は、団体交渉の場で組合側および支部に対し強硬な姿勢をとり続けているため、最高裁への上告も予想される。

東京地方裁判所でも主張してきた、学校側が就業規則のコピーの提供を拒否することをパワハラだという主張に関しては、組合側が敗訴した。

High Court Upholds Tozen Paid Leave Victory over JCFL

Tozen Union members working at Japan College of Foreign Languages won paid leave Wednesday in Tokyo High Court.  The school, operated by Bunsai Gakuen, had denied paid leave to teachers working on zero-hour contracts, claiming that intervals between one-semester contracts disrupt the continuity of their employment and therefore preclude any right to paid leave.


Tokyo High Court ruled that members Todd, Tim, and Mark’s employment is continuous, making them eligible for the legal minimum allotment of annual paid leave.  JCFL must pay for paid leave already taken plus interest.  The court upheld a November 2018 Tokyo District Court ruling.


Management has taken a hard line against Tozen Union and JCFL Workers’ Union in collective bargaining and is expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. The union members lost a claim that the school’s refusal to give a copy of its work rules constitutes power harassment.

JCFL Finally Sends Union a Stamped Apology Letter

On August 9th 2019, Tokyo High Court ruled that Japan College of Foreign Languages interfered with union leafleting in June and October of 2013, violating trade union law and the constitutional rights of Tozen Union members.  Shortly thereafter, JCFL sent an apology letter to the union in accordance with the verdict.

However, in violation of Japanese norms and common sense, JCFL did not affix their stamp.  When the union asked for a version with the stamp, JCFL ignored the letter.

Tozen Union had to take the step of filing a complaint with the Central Labor Commission charging that JCFL was in violation of the order.  Under pressure from the Central Labor Commission, JCFL has finally issued a proper apology letter to the union, over two months after the verdict was finalized.

This is just more evidence of how Tozen Union has had to fight tooth and nail to get JCFL to recognize the trade union rights of our members.  

The Tozen JCFL local, established in 2013, faced a hostile reception from the outset. At two union actions JCFL obstructed union leafleting. The union sued JCFL in the Tokyo Labor Relations Commission. On Jan 25, 2016, the commission ruled that the school had interfered with legitimate union activity and ordered the school to apologize.

JCFL appealed to the Central Labor Relations Commission, which upheld the ruling.

The school sued the government to overturn the ruling. On March 1, 2019 Tokyo District Court again ruled against JCFL. The school took the case to Tokyo High Court which rejected JCFL’s appeal.

“Rather than take responsibility from the very beginning and simply apologize, JCFL has adopted a strategy of stonewalling and endless litigation, wasting time and prolonging the inevitable,” said Tozen Senior Organizer Gerome Rothman. “JCFL has refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the union, except under court order.”

Union President Todd Williams said, “To call this a hard won victory for the union would be an understatement. It is a testament to the grit and tenacity of our members. JCFL cannot escape the consequences of its belligerence towards the union.”

Read the apology here.

Tozen JCFL Local Scores Final Victory in Labor Commission

On August 9th 2019, Tokyo High Court ruled that Japan College of Foreign Languages interfered with union leafleting in June and October of 2013, violating trade union law and the constitutional rights of Tozen Union members.

The Tozen JCFL local, established in 2013, faced a hostile reception from the outset. At two union actions JCFL obstructed union leafleting. The union sued JCFL in the Tokyo Labor Relations Commission. On Jan 25, 2016, the commission ruled that the school had interfered with legitimate union activity and ordered the school to apologize.

JCFL appealed to the Central Labor Relations Commission, which upheld the ruling.

The school sued the government to overturn the ruling. On March 1, 2019 Tokyo District Court again ruled against JCFL. The school took the case to Tokyo High Court which rejected JCFL’s appeal.

On Aug 13, six years removed from the illegal obstruction, JCFL finally apologized to the union.

“Rather than take responsibility from the very beginning and simply apologize, JCFL has adopted a strategy of stonewalling and endless litigation, wasting time and prolonging the inevitable,” said Tozen Senior Organizer Gerome Rothman. “JCFL has refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the union, except under court order.”

Union President Todd Williams said, “To call this a hard won victory for the union would be an understatement. It is a testament to the grit and tenacity of our members. JCFL cannot escape the consequences of its belligerence towards the union.”

National Labor Board Upholds Ruling Against JCFL

Victory!

The Central Labor Relations Commission ruled on Thursday March 29th that Japan College of Foreign Languages (JCFL, a division of Bunsai Gakuen) had illegally interfered with Tozen Union’s leafleting actions in front of the school.

Tozen Union and its JCFL Local argued that management interfered with legitimate union activity by sending employees out to block the union from passing out leaflets at two separate leafletings in 2013.

In January of 2016, Tokyo Labor Relations commission ruled in favor of the union’s petition, ordering management to cease all such interference and to post a large sign apologizing to the union at the workplace for ten days.  Management immediately appealed.  That appeal was formally rejected on Thursday.

The victory was thanks to the relentless struggle of the local.

Tozen Union wins victory over JCFL

The Tokyo Labor Commission ruled Monday morning that Japan College of Foreign Languages (JCFL, a division of Bunsai Gakuen) had illegally interfered with Tozen Union’s leafleting actions in front of the school.     Tozen Union and its JCFL Local claimed that management sent employees out to block the union from passing out leaflets and made the union look bad.

The commission ruled in favor of the union, ordering management to cease all such interference and to post a large sign apologizing to the union at the workplace for ten days.

The victory was thanks to the relentless struggle of the local.

Read more

Japan College of Foreign Languages Local Conducts Recruitment Leafleting, Braves Illegal and Dangerous Management Harassment

JCFL Members braved the rain and management harassment on Thursday, January 22 to conduct a recruitment leafleting to in front of the JCFL Takadanobaba campus during their lunch break.

At 12:30, Case officer Gerome Rothman and three union members arrived at the front gate. They began leafleting instructors and staff.

Shortly after the union began, management deployed several non-union staffers to interfere with the leafleting. Management first told the union they would call the police. The union responded by insisting management stop interfering with our legitimate union activity.

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