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Sparkzilla (talk | contribs) Some reordering. Remove weasel words. Reworded facts as claims. Added criticism of Union from Metropolis magazine. |
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'''The National Union of General Workers''' (NUGW) is the largest [[trade union]] for foreign and [[migrant workers]] in [[Japan]] with |
'''The National Union of General Workers''' (NUGW) is the largest [[trade union]] for foreign and [[migrant workers]] in [[Japan]] with offices in Fukuoka, Osaka and Tokyo. The union claims a history almost as long as that of legalized organised labour in Japan. |
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The union claims several thousand workers throughout Japan, and that about a quarter of these members are foreign nationals. According to the union, most non-Japanese members are employed in [[Eikaiwa]] (English-language teaching in Japan) and English language newspapers, with many Japanese members are employed in the publishing industry. NUGW represents branch unions at dozens of English language schools including [[Nova]], [[GEOS]], [[Berlitz]], [[ECC]] and Interac. |
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The union has a long history; almost as long as the history of legalized organised labour in Japan{{fact}}. The union's current membership numbers several thousand workers throughout Japan{{fact}}. About a quarter of these members are foreign nationals{{fact}}. |
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The union engages in [[Strike action|strikes]], rallies and leafletings, filing injunctions and arguing cases at the Labour Commission and Tokyo District Court on issues such as the non-enrollment of employees into National Health Insurance (shakai hoken), illegal outsourcing of Assistant Language Teachers by public schools (gyomu itaku), and unfair dismissals due to one-year contracts. |
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Although NUGW does not restrict membership, it is true to say that it has developed areas of concentration and specialisation. Regarding the Japanese members of the union, the publishing sector is a field employing many; for non-Japanese members, foreign language teaching and English language newspapers are the areas in which the majority are employed. |
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⚫ | Representatives of the National Union of General Workers Tokyo South have served as reporters to the United Nations rapporteur on the Committee to Eliminate Racial Discrimination{{fact}}; the General Union (Osaka) has official consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC){{fact}}. |
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NUGW represent branch unions at dozens of English language schools including [[Nova]], [[GEOS]], [[Berlitz]], [[ECC]] and Interac. |
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=Criticisms= |
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NUGW is willing to engage in industrial action in pursuit of its aims. Regarding employee dispute cases, the union uses any and all legal means at its disposal such as engaging in [[Strike action|strikes]], rallies and leafletings, filing injunctions and arguing cases at the Labour Commission and Tokyo District Court, to achieve victory. |
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The union has been criticized for its agressive militancy in persuing the Shakai Hoken (National Health Insurance) issue. An editorial in [[Metropolis (Tokyo)|Metropolis]] argued that the union's actions would actually harm the majority of teachers and force the wider community of foreigners working in Japan to pay high premiums with less coverage than alternative, private, schemes. The article argued that allowing foreigners to opt out of the insurance scheme was a benefit to all but a small number of long-term employees. |
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The actual number of the union's members is disputed. |
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⚫ | Representatives of the National Union of General Workers Tokyo South have served as reporters to the United Nations rapporteur on the Committee to Eliminate Racial Discrimination{{fact}}; the General Union (Osaka) has official consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC){{fact}}. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.generalunion.org/ General Union (Osaka and Nagoya areas)] |
*[http://www.generalunion.org/ General Union (Osaka and Nagoya areas)] |
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*[http://fukuoka.generalunion.org/ General Union Fukuoka (Fukuoka area)] |
*[http://fukuoka.generalunion.org/ General Union Fukuoka (Fukuoka area)] |
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*[http://www.crisscross.com/jp/comment/771 Union crusade bad for foreign employees (republished from Metropolis magazine)] |
Revision as of 05:53, 24 October 2006
The National Union of General Workers (NUGW) is the largest trade union for foreign and migrant workers in Japan with offices in Fukuoka, Osaka and Tokyo. The union claims a history almost as long as that of legalized organised labour in Japan.
The union claims several thousand workers throughout Japan, and that about a quarter of these members are foreign nationals. According to the union, most non-Japanese members are employed in Eikaiwa (English-language teaching in Japan) and English language newspapers, with many Japanese members are employed in the publishing industry. NUGW represents branch unions at dozens of English language schools including Nova, GEOS, Berlitz, ECC and Interac.
The union engages in strikes, rallies and leafletings, filing injunctions and arguing cases at the Labour Commission and Tokyo District Court on issues such as the non-enrollment of employees into National Health Insurance (shakai hoken), illegal outsourcing of Assistant Language Teachers by public schools (gyomu itaku), and unfair dismissals due to one-year contracts.
Representatives of the National Union of General Workers Tokyo South have served as reporters to the United Nations rapporteur on the Committee to Eliminate Racial Discrimination[citation needed]; the General Union (Osaka) has official consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)[citation needed].
Criticisms
The union has been criticized for its agressive militancy in persuing the Shakai Hoken (National Health Insurance) issue. An editorial in Metropolis argued that the union's actions would actually harm the majority of teachers and force the wider community of foreigners working in Japan to pay high premiums with less coverage than alternative, private, schemes. The article argued that allowing foreigners to opt out of the insurance scheme was a benefit to all but a small number of long-term employees.
The actual number of the union's members is disputed.