NOVA Union on NOVA’s impending bankruptcy, and strike/march Tues Oct 16

mytest

Hi Blog. Hot off the email press: Arudou Debito in Sapporo

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////
From: carlet@jca.apc.org
Subject: [Nambu FWC] Nova Action Day On Tuesday Not Monday
Date: October 14, 2007 7:09:24 PM JST

Dear Nova Members and Supporters,
Please read the following carefully:

1 Situation at Nova
2 Union’s plan of action
3 Schedule of Eventson Tuesday

==============================

1 Situation at Nova

As many of you know, Nova is on the verge of bankruptcy and is likely already insolvent, burdened with massive liabilities from terminated and ongoing student contracts, and little assets since most properties are rented. Administrative staff were not paid on their most recent payday of Sept. 27 and have yet to be paid. Management has already said that teachers’ salaries will not be paid on Oct. 15 (tomorrow) and may be paid by Friday, Oct. 19. The situation for thousands of foreign and Japanese employees around the country is serious. In addition to unpaid wages, some are being kicked out of their housing, others are having visa problems.

Meanwhile, President Nozomu Sahashi is nowhere to be found and refuses to file to the court for bankruptcy protection. Such a filing would aid all employees to retrieve 80% of their unpaid waves through government subsidies and to start to receive unemployment benefits (‘for those who have been employed long enough). The company is falling apart without Sahashi filing properly, the worst possible of situations, making it far more difficult and time-consuming to get our wages paid and onto the dole, etc.

2 Union’s Plan of Action

Only public pressure (or shame) will push Sahashi to do the right thing and file properly. We plan

1) to hold a massive strike ON TUESDAY of all members. (Initially we planned it for tomorrow but CHANGED TO TUESDAY to co-ordinate with General Union in Osaka)

2) to file a petition at the Shinjuku Labor Standards Office to prosecute Sahashi for criminal failure to pay wages as is stipulated in Labor Standards Law

3) to protest outside the LSO in front of the media to demand such a prosecution

4) to hold a press conference to explain the union’s position on the current situation

These actions are being coordinated with out sister union, General Union, in Osaka. It is crucial that all members go on strike on Tuesday and meet at the following times and places:

3 Schedule of Events

Monday Oct 15: We will fax document to Nova management notifying them that all members will strike for the entire day Tuesday.

Tuesday 11 am: Meet at South Exit of Okubo Station on the Sohbu Line

See map: http://maps.google.co.jp/maps?oe=UTF-8&hl=ja&tab=wl&q=

We will then walk to the Shinjuku LSO at 11:15pm

11:30pm We will say a few words to the press and then enter the LSO with our petition to prosecute Pres. Sahashi.

12:00pm-12:30pm We will demonstrate outside LSO in front of press

12:30-13:00pm We will hold a brief press conference

13:15pm to 14:00pm We will hold a union meeting back at the union office to decide our next collective move.

Again, remember all members must strike on Tuesday since we will be notifying management that way. Since we have many new members, we can decide tomorrow what future actions to take. But it is crucial that we act as a union tomorrow, particularly when there will be press attention.

If you have any questions, please call Louis at 09093636580.

If you talk to the press, tell them to be at the Shinjuku LSO (Shinjuku Rohdoh Kijun Kantoku-Sho at 11:15pm).

Please feel free to agree or refuse to personal interviews with the press. Friends and supporters of Nova Union, including all Nambu members are welcome to join us for the whole day of action.

In Solidarity, Louis Carlet Dep. Gen. Sec. NUGW Tokyo Nambu

Bob Tench Vice President Nova Union

— NUGW Tokyo Nambu – Nambu FWC — Vote today for your favourite Nova mascot!
http://nambufwc.org
ENDS
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////

REFERENTIAL ARTICLE:

IS IT ALL OVER FOR NOVA?
As ‘eikaiwa’ giant plans school closures amid credit crunch, some fear the worst
The Japan Times, Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20070925a1.html
https://www.debito.org/?p=593
ENDS

5 comments on “NOVA Union on NOVA’s impending bankruptcy, and strike/march Tues Oct 16

  • Unfortunately (or fortunately….), I’m not in Japan. I hail from Montreal, Canada.

    But I just wanted to say that I wish I could hit the pavement with the employees of Nova. What this company does is despicable.

    I wish I could offer more than moral support.

    Reply
  • From: nambu.carlet@ezweb.ne.jp
    Subject: [Nambu FWC] Support Our Nova Members Tomorrow
    Date: October 15, 2007 10:56:39 PM JST

    Sisters and Brothers

    Our Nova members weren’t paid today so we will visit the Labor Standards Office and demand a move towards prosecution of President Sahashi. Government directives apparently don’t suffice.

    Tuesday 11 am: Meet at South Exit of Okubo Station on the Sohbu Line
    See map: http://maps.google.co.jp/maps?oe=UTF-8&hl=ja&tab=wl&q=

    We will then walk to the Shinjuku LSO at 11:15pm

    Afterward we will have a demo, a meeting at our office and a press conference.

    Join!

    Louis Carlet
    NUGW Tokyo Nambu


    NUGW Tokyo Nambu – Nambu FWC

    Vote today for your favourite Nova mascot!
    http://nambufwc.org

    Reply
  • Sisters and Brothers,

    Thank you to all members during the strike, picket and media campaign
    yesterday who helped us make a strong appeal to the public of Nova unpaid
    wages. In addition to many long segments on TV, there was video on the
    Yamanote Line and many articles in the newspapers, including a false report
    that the union would file to force the company into bankruptcy.

    The situation is very serious for our Nova members, so please support
    them any way you can. Nova members will meet Sunday at 7pm at the Nambu
    office.

    Also, we have a message from our member Rab, who is building an
    ecofriendly log cabin in Japan and would like some help. See message below.

    In Solidarity,

    Louis Carlet
    NUGW Tokyo Nambu
    Dep. Gen. Sec.

    Reply
  • Julieanne Hogg says:

    I have just received an e-mail from my friends in Japan to say that Nova has finally went bankrupt. I left Nova last month and with many thousands of teachers, I was hoping to get paid on Oct 25th. However, this was not to be the case and the fear and dread that all are feeling came to fruitation.

    I am sorry that i cannot be with you all in Japan at this most difficult time but i send my deepest sympathy and hope and pray that we see justice in the future. As for ‘Monkey Bridge…..The dark clouds are upon you and wont be cast aside. The darkest time is before dawn and will remain with you as you hide..and finally the first light of dawn can be seen as we see you scratch and crawl.

    JLH
    Rokkomichi Branch
    Kobe sept 04-sept07

    Reply

Leave a Reply to S. Dumais Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>