About The General Union | The General Union was formed in 1991 with a core group of five people. At present we have several hundred members both Japanese and non-Japanese in a variety of different types of companies and professions. Most of our members are non-Japa
nese working as language teachers. We have individual members or local branch unions in most of the major English Conversation schools in Kansai. However, the General Union is not simply a 'teachers' union'; any full or part-time worker regardless of thei
r nationality or field of employment is eligible to join. Women are well represented in the union, both at the executive and branch levels. The General Union provides a forum in which members co-operate in activities to improve their working conditions. These activities take a variety of forms;
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Joining The General Union | When you decide to join the General Union you will be invited to an orientation meeting at the head office. It is important that you attend so that you can become familiar with the organising principles of the union, and so that the union c
an get all the details of your situation and requirements. At that time the possibility of forming a branch at your workplace may be explored.
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Starting a new local union branch | The General Union seeks to help new local union branches to form. The union is most effective when there is a strong local union with which it can work. A strong local is not necessarily a numerically large union. Rather, it is one that is
unified and whose members are willing to remain united to protect their rights together. A weak local union is one that is inclined to split or lose members under pressure. The development of a union local should take place secretly until the union is rea
dy to declare itself to management and seek negotiations. This prevents management from taking action against the union before it is fully prepared. The need for secrecy must be balanced
against the fact that declared union members have a greater degree of legal protection. Article 7 of the Labor Union Law prohibits employers from discharging or discriminating against union members because of their union membership or activities, prohibi
ts employers from interfering in the formation or management of a union, and requires that employers negotiate in good faith. However, before taking any action based on a superficial reading of the law, specific situations should be discussed with the Gen
eral Union.
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Labour Organi-
| There are three main labor federations in Japan, Rengo, Zenroren, and Zenrokyo. Rengo is a conservative federation of company unions and unions of semi-
governmental organizations like the post office, NTT etc, while Zenroren is affiliated with the communist party of Japan. At present, only Zenrokyo is extensively involved in the organisation of non-Japanese workers. The National Union of General Workers
(NUGW), is a national federation of unions affiliated with the Zenrokyo confederation; the General Union is based in Kansai and is a branch of the NUGW.
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