General Union ECC Branch

The General Union is an organization that negotiates with employers, mainly English conversation schools and other educational institutions, to improve its members' working conditions.

Who can join the ECC Branch?
Union membership is open to all ECC workers: Teaching Staff, full time workers (Jokin Koshi), part time workers (Hijokin Koshi), and staff. People working at: the Foreign Language Deparment, CRD, and ECC Junior. Most members are foreign workers, but anyone is welcome to join.**************What has the union done for ECC Workers?
While the union can only represent its members, our victories are everyone's victories. This is what the union has won for all ECC workers:

  • Flexible, paid holidays (ALPs)

  • Improvements to ECC's leave policy for sickness

  • Employee's Health and Pension, Unemployment Insurance

  • Special paid leave (marriage and bereavement)

  • A reduction of 4 EQ Days (an increase of 4 Rest Days) for Teaching Staff

  • Contract completion bonus for Teaching Staff past their 3rd year (negotiated yearly)

  • Abolition of the "no pay raise rule" for Unlimited Term Contract workers

  • The guarantee of a pay raise over the next 3 years (2024-2026)

  • And much more

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Why should I join the union?
Being part of a union gives you:

  • Job security through our "pre-consultation agreement" with ECC

  • A grievance process that allows us to bring problems at work directly to the top management

  • A community of hundreds of teachers in various workplaces all across Japan

  • Access to workshops, seminars, and other events so you can learn your rights and how to exercise them

  • A voice in a democratic organization, allowing you to create the changes you want to see

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What's New?Right now, the ECC Branch is working on:

  • Negotiating for up to 3 days of continuous excused unpaid "sick leave" with one receipt from a medical institution

  • Negotiating for members who are currently 65 years old to be able to continue working full-time from April 2025

  • Submitting the new demands for 2025

  • Strategies to increase the branch membership

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Members Updates: Business Cards: We have new General Union business cards, which have a link to this ECC Branch websiteIf you'd like some business cards to distribute to coworkers or friends (while not on ECC property), email me at [email protected]
GU Solidarity Pledge:Join our individual organizing training
Get more involved in your branch
Win an Amazon Gift Card

What is the Solidarity Pledge?
Take the Solidarity Pledge Here
2025 Demands:The 2025 Demands for the ECC Branch have passed the Branch Vote by a wide margin. The demands have been approved by the General Union, and we are in the process of submitting them to ECC. Keep your eye on your email for Collective Bargaining DatesHave a work-related question or problem?
Email us at [email protected] ********************

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Problems at Work? Need Advice?
Here's how the union can help you:**************

  • 1. Answering your questions about labor laws in Japan (contracts, health insurance and pension, retirement, and more.

  • 2. Sending a union representative (either in person or by Zoom) to join you during any difficult interviews with management.

  • 3. Filing a grievance with the company on your behalf if you have trouble at work (a grievance is concern, problem or complaint about your work):

  • -Step 0: Contact the company about your problem. Keep a record of your interactions. If the issue is not resolved during this step, and requires union assistance, any emails or other communications you can forward to us will help us to know what actions need to be taken.

  • -Step 1: Consultation: we gather the relevant information from you by email, in person, or in a Zoom interview

  • -Step 2: The branch shares the information with the General Union, who decides on how to best proceed (filing a grievance, providing you with information, or another course of action).

  • -Step 3: In the case of a grievance, the GU sends an email or makes a phone call to management outlining the issue and requesting a solution to the problem.

  • -Step 4: The union shares management's reply with you, and works together with you and management to find a solution that benefits you.

You can also get advice and information from fellow union members on our private Facebook group or Discord - email us if you are a member and want to join*****************Have a Question?
email [email protected]**************

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Email the ECC Branch
at [email protected]

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