Job Discussion Forums

[yamanote senbei]

The General Union and ECC have signed a historic collective agreement over Shakai Hoken (Health and Pension). ECC will enroll any 29.5 hour contract instructors who wishes to be enrolled on Shakai Hoken from October 1, 2006. Instructors who wish to be enrolled will have to work 30 hours or more per week.

[callmesim]

Wow!!!

That'll make many ECC teachers happy! Not me though, I've already paid for my health insurance this year and plan on leaving next year. The horror!!

[bearcat]

Notice they say only for those over 29.5.... That's pretty much the trainers on up only unless they're gonna include those who do overtime regularly.

Long overdue but its somewhat anti-climatic.

[Like a Rolling Stone]

Yes I think GOES did this back a year or so a go and they just made all the teachers do part time and they had to clock in and out more times Yhink ECC's workers can all expecy new contracts soon.

[Speed]

[callmesim]

That's how I read it too.

[Like a Rolling Stone]

[Vince]

It'll be nice if it happens, but I can't imagine the company suddenly agreeing to absorb that cost. Avoiding that cost is what the 29.5 hours was about. I suspect the union will soon have a bigger fight.

[Firestarter]

I saw the notice yesterday.....don't think I'd sign up as I'm still unsure if I'll be around beyond April. But we'll see.

How many of you would enroll? (Should have made a poll......)

[Glenski]

For the curious...

GU wins Shakai Hoken at ECC - 2006-07-28
The General Union and ECC have signed a historic collective agreement over Shakai Hoken (Health and Pension) on 28th July 2006. ECC will enroll any 29.5 hour contract instructors who wishes to be enrolled on Shakai Hoken from October 1, 2006. Instructors who wish to be enrolled will have to work 30 hours or more per week.
ECC will be placing notices in all ECC schools over the next few weeks. For more details contact the General Union
www.generalunion.org

[Dooly]

I`ve been in Japan with ECC for 6 months now, and I have Global Health Insurance. If I get Shakai Hoken, will I have to make backpayments for Japanese Health Insurance?

[Firestarter]

Do teachers at AEON and Geos also have the option of joining Shakai Hoken?

[Nicedog777]

We at AEON have a sort travel health insurance through AIU. We get fully reinbursed for illness related visits, but not for dental or regular checkups. We also follow the 29.5 work hour deal on paper to skirt shakai hoken. I can't stress enough how on paper that 29.5 is....

But no, I don't think its an option for us. Not the entry level, anyway. Not sure about trainers.

[luckbox]

Not to downplay important, even symbolic union victories like this, but if such victories are based on the number of hours per week worked (29.5), what's to prevent any and all companies from simply hiring workers for 29 hours or less? The same goes with length of a contract. If a worker must be contracted for 12 months to enjoy certain benefits by law, you'll simply see companies hiring on an 11-month contract basis.

One other problem area requiring attention: Instructors at some companies are often paid strictly for in class teaching time worked, yet they are expected to do all the necessary lesson planning, prep-work and various paperwork - for free. One company I know of uses the strategy of split shift: paid teaching time from 8 - 12, followed by a 4 hour break, then teaching from 4 to 7. The evening (and the morning, for that matter) portion requires all sorts of lesson planning and prep, and the company expects you to use your break time accordingly. Suddenly a split shift looks and feels more like a 12 hour working day.

[Glenski]