2007–2008 Berlitz Japan strike
Beginning in December 2007 and continuing until November 2008, it grew into the longest and largest sustained strike among language teachers in Japan.
A little over five years after the strike initially started matters were finally concluded with the union winning a raise and a bonus for teachers at Berlitz Japan.
Until 2003, when Benesse took majority control of Berlitz,[5] all teachers would get an annual base-up raise on June 18, as well as a seniority bonus.
In 2005, the union took action over a number of grievances, and claimed this forced Berlitz management into paying the performance increase for that year.
Its “Language Company” sector had been taking losses during 2004, but in the fiscal year 2007, its operation profits were 34.9 billion yen.
On December 13, 2007, Berlitz management held a party at the Roppongi Hills Grand Hyatt to celebrate good financial results.
[10] In March 2008, then-Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda concurred, saying that "I think now is the time when the fruits of reform should be passed on to the people and household budgets.
The union held demonstrations, hired a sound bus to advertise their campaign around Tokyo, and more than half the Berlitz schools in Kanto had participated.
Berlitz continued to have teachers, which the union referred to as “caffeine cowboys”, on call ready to fill in for possible strikes.
[citation needed] The union had reduced its original nine demands to two: a 4.6% base-pay raise for all teachers and staff, and a bonus equal to one month's salary.
Strikes continued, leafleting sessions increased, and on October 22 there was a demonstration in front of Benesse's HQ in Tama plaza, which was supported by members of the Kawasaki City Union.
[1] Soon after this, on December 3, 2008, Berlitz Japan sued the five teachers who served as volunteer Begunto executives, as well as two officials from the National Union of General Workers (NUGW), president Yujio Hiraga and Louis Carlet, the deputy general secretary and case officer for Begunto.
By way of comparison, a "semi full time contract" teacher at Berlitz earned a basic salary of ¥250,000 per month, or ¥3,000,000 ($32,139.1) per year.
The purpose of the visit was to explain the reason for the strike (I am sure they were not aware of it) and to assure them that the union was earnestly seeking an equitable resolution.
The possibility of more corporate customers learning of the strike and perhaps cancelling contracts is what prompted Berlitz to swat the mosquito with a sledgehammer.
"[15] Takashi Araki, law professor at Tokyo University, and American lawyer Timothy Langley both regarded the litigation as unusual, as it is very uncommon for companies to sue striking workers.
Professor Gerald McAlinn of Keio Law School also said it was very unusual for a company to choose to sue workers on the grounds that the strike was illegal.
In 2010 the negotiations were dealing with several issues, including the amount of notice union members should give if they intend to strike.
Berlitz had not enrolled her in the shakai hoken (Japanese national medical insurance) which would have provided her with two-thirds of her regular income while receiving treatment in Japan.
[18] The original labor commission case, lodged in 2008 continued[12][4] until almost the end of 2012, before being withdrawn by the union as part of negotiations.
Under the new rules, the union must agree to notify the company of future industrial action three weeks in advance, during which time negotiations would continue.
The company also promised not to use warning letters issued during the strike against the union members in question, but it refused to remove them from the instructor's files.
