Walkout in the Works

an edit function would be really nice. That's embarrassing, anyway still someone please answer my questions.

a little birdie told me you definitely won't be paid by the 15th at 3pm, so you might as well not even go on the 15th, or today.

A little birdie told me Elvis is living in Shinsaibashi. I don't believe it though.

Got anything more concrete?

The reason that people's schedules are closed on the 16th (and after) is because staff know that people are going to call in. It is easier to not book the lessons in the first place than to cancel them all at the last minute. Simple really.

The two best options people have are:
1- Call in sick if you are not paid. Japanese staff will not give you a hard time about it. They understand.
2- Come to work so that you can collect 80% of your lost wages sometime down the track.

It really depends on each person's individial situation as to which one is best.

It seems that the union is really pushing the rigth government departments so hopefully there will be some pressure on Sahashi to fold. If instructors want to do something constructive to push this along further they should lodge complaints at the Labor Standards office (although they are usually reluctant to accept them) or contact the General Union and see if they are holding some event that you can get behind.

It goes without saying that giving Japanese staff or supervisors a hard time is not only a waste of time but counter productive as most of them are actually trying to help instructors at the moment. It's management at the very top who deserve the abuse.

This is not a tickle-your-ears, politically correct letter. If you want to read something that's filled with rhetoric, read something else. If you want the truth, then read this letter. Here's my side of the story: I am sick of our illustrious "leaders" treading on eggshells so as not to upset NOVA. Here's what I have to say to them: NOVA has no discernible talents. The only things it has indubitably mastered are biological functions. Well, I suppose NOVA's also good at convincing people that censorship could benefit us, but my point is that I can definitely suggest how NOVA ought to behave. Ultimately, however, the burden of acting with moral rectitude lies with NOVA itself. While we do nothing, those who create a regime of eccentric fascism are gloating and smirking. And they will keep on gloating and smirking until we introduce an important, but underrepresented, angle on NOVA's foolhardy personal attacks. NOVA trumpets ruthless propagandism laced with stroppy larrikinism, and deep down in our bones, we all know why. It may seem difficult at first to make an impartial and well-informed evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of NOVA's précis. It is. But NOVA truly believes that character development is not a matter of "strength through adversity" but rather, "entitlement through victimization". It is just such lackluster megalomania, ghastly egoism, and intellectual aberrancy that stirs NOVA to produce a large number of totally delirious extravagancies, most egocentric indecencies, and, above all, the most prurient blasphemies against everything that I hold most sacred and most dear.

Since I have promised to be candid, I will tell you candidly that NOVA doesn't want us to wake people out of their stupor and call on them to instill a sense of responsibility and maturity in those who shatter and ultimately destroy our most precious possessions. It would rather we settle for the meatless bone of materialism. If NOVA is victorious in its quest to put the gods of heaven into the corner as obsolete and outmoded and, in their stead, burn incense to the idol Mammon, then its crown will be the funeral wreath of humanity. Technically, I've heard NOVA say that it is known for its sound judgment, unerring foresight, and sagacious adaptation of means to ends. Was that just a slip of the lip or is NOVA secretly trying to sentence more and more people to poverty, prison, and early death? It doesn't want you to know the answer to that question; it wants to ensure you don't speak out against behavior and speech that is intended to use lethal violence as a source of humor. Now that this letter has come to an end, I hope you walk away from it realizing that letting NOVA brainwash the masses into submission sends a clear message to unruly authoritarians that they can tell everyone else what to do.

Uh-huh....... is that what happens when a philosophy major gets drunk?

Did anybody at all get that message?

Anyone not going in on 16th has a duty to go to their local Labour Standards Office to file a formal complaint. These are the guys that got the media attention last time (as much as the union) and when I filed my complaint they were massively helpful - but best to have a Japanese speaker with you to make it all a bit smoother.

Anyone GOING on the 16th should also do the same.

Of course Jug Ears might pull a bunny out his arse and pay everyone mind ........................

If anyone in or around Osaka wants some reliable information and good advice,
go to the General Union meeting in Temmabashi on sunday 14th.
I went there three weeks ago, not really knowing what to expect, and they were really helpful.

I went to the Labour Standards Office personally and asked them a few poignant questions:

Q: If we're not paid by 3pm on the 16th, if we leave, are we in jeopardy of violating are contract through some loop hole?
A: No. If by 3pm you and your teachers are not paid, all of you leave and come here and lodge a complaint that will be sent to Osaka, stating exactly how much money each of you are owed. You should bring your pay stub.

Q:Should some of us go on UI, the timing is really bad, many of us want to go home for the Holidays, but if we are on UI, can we leave the country to go home and visit or will we forfeit our UI?
A: If it's just for a 2-3 weeks or so, you should be fine [note that it was a "tabun daijobu" in the original answer] but your best bet is to go and come back, then claim your UI.

Now, as for how long it will take to claim your UI in the various scenarios, I have to go to another building today.
The questions are:
Q: If our pay is late, how soon can we collect UI?
Q: If NOVA goes bankrupt, how soon can we collect UI?

I've seen the other string in these forums, but when I asked one lady at Hello Work these questions she said it could take up to 3 months... :( BUT in my honest opinion and I don't think she knew what she was talking about, and hence she directed me to another building.

Will report back what I find today, if someone doesn't already know the answer to those questions affirmatively.

GL HF

OH, and btw. If you call in sick and still have paid Holidays Left, tell your Koshitanto to put your paid holidays down on the Jitsudo in lieu of your sick days. 'cause once the company folds, your paid holidays are gone, too. So, might as well bank them now as claimable wages when you file your suit to get your unpaid wages, rather than deducting days from them. This can also be done through your AAM, and you should actually contact your AAM to do so. Hope you haven't burnt that bridge... I had 12 paid holidays x roughly Y14,000/day ... that's an expensive bridge to burn. (Glad I didn't).

There is a new fax, sent after 9 today. Earliest pay will be the 19th. Check in branch tomorrow. It was sent in English so it should be posted.

I worked for a language school that folded. It took 6 months before we were paid the 80% for hours worked but not paid by the company. Plan to live on your own savings for that long. You can collect from overseas, but do not count on it unless you have a native speaker to fight the battle for you here in Japan at the labor board.

Good luck to all.