Job Discussion Forums

[generalunionone]

The General Union is getting ready to launch the Hands Off Our Pay Campaign. Demonstrations have already begun in Osaka and Nagoya and it will be going nation wide.

Read more www.generalunion.org/nova

[Hoser]

Never thought I'd see any new Nova threads. I've moved on but I'll happily sign on to any "Nova give me back my &^%ing backpay!" petitions.

[elkarlo]

I'm still not on the scene, so I can't imagine the fallout of Nova going down. I guess getting one's pay that they are owed, sin't something that people just get over.

[Apsara]

Actually I think the issue this time is not back pay from the collapse of the original Nova as most people received that early last year, it's that the new management is cutting teachers' pay when they next renew their contracts. In many cases the teachers were with the old Nova for years and got pay increases with each contract renewal, so some of them were on 350,000 yen plus and they are having their pay cut back to less than 300,000- quite a blow when you are supporting a family.

generalunionone, you might want to post a short update as well as providing the link so that people have an idea what the current issues are.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[Apsara]

Yep, when I was there (1999-2001) 5,000 to 15,000 extra per month was usually given when you renewed your contract, depending on your "performance"- 10 years or so of those increments and some of those guys are on around 400,000 per month. That's why some of them stayed through all the BS that has gone on there in the last year and a half- they knew they had no chance of getting anywhere near that somewhere else.

[mc]

Meh, lots of companies are cutting pay right now, whether it be in the form of reduced benefits and bonuses to no overtime or shortening the work week from 5 days to 4 four a couple of months (like the Toyota Group). If the new NOVA is struggling why wouldn't they try to reduce pay? Good luck with your "demonstrations", but this is not something I could ever get behind.

[Inflames]

Part of it is G.Com`s new "regularity bonus" system. Basically 40,000 yen of your pay is a "bonus" (that NOVA counted as salary but G.Com say it`s not [yet they will pro-rate it], not are overtime rates based on it) for perfect attendance. If you call in sick on the day of the absence, you lose all 40,000 yen. If you get a doctor`s note, all you lose is lessons not worked and your regularity gets pro-rated.

[generalunionone]

ok, The issues

- Original Regularity Allowance was 25,000. Ged increased it to 40,000 yen for new contracts and reduced the base salary accordingly.

-They company has gotten very tough about paying the allowance though. If you are absent and don't call in by a certain time the evening before the absence you lose the allowance. Effectively you are fined for being sick. Some managers say that if you have a doctor's certificate you will still get the allowance. Problem is that we know of people who have still been docked the 40,000. And do you know the cost of getting a doctor's certificate - not exactly cheap.

And if you are absent for 2 days you will lose the allowance for 2 months!

- Regular teachers on low salaries are seeing large pay cuts at renewal. Can't be sure right now but I think it is about 15%. But some people are being asked to sign a clause that they will accept a transfer anywhere in the country. If they refuse they are getting larger cuts. One person I have been meeting has a cut of almost 25% looming.

If you know of anyone who has beeen docked the regularity allowance direct them to the union. We are looking for people to challenge the deductions. [email protected]

[Hoser]

Man I am so glad I did not stay on with that company. They asked me if I wanted to switch over and I said HELL NO!!!! and RAN to Hello Work.

[stillnosheep]

I can imagine it now:

"Transfer to G. Com sir?"

HELL NO! HOSER WON"T GO!
HO HO HO CHI MINH!