There was a recording made (Japanese). The following is taken from our History of the Situation page.
Our 4th arbitration meeting was held April 20 in Shinjuku. In answer to questions concerning the number
of people in the past who had not been granted waivers after reaching 60, the Admin team stated that 13 people over the
past 10 years had not been extended.
They also stated that the 6 people contesting this policy are
the same six listed as examples of past practice of not being rehired at 60 and those same six are included in the 13 total
who have not been extended in the past 10 years.
They also do not dispute that most of those not extended were well
beyond 60 years old even to 67 and 69--and they had often been extended many years. Three people were even hired after
60.
They also agreed that there has been no past practice of a person not being extended with a regular contract
solely because they were 60.
In discussing issues concerning co-curricular assignments and the length of the teaching
day listed on the Non-Regular Contract, the Admin were made aware that we do not all teach only 5 of 8 classes (HS, MS, ES,
and ELC are all different) and therefore do not have lots of time to meet with students during school rather than after school,
that PE teachers MUST coach two sports and that teachers do not ultimately have free choice on co-curricular activities.
This was pointed out since the Non-Regular contract "allows" a teacher to leave at 3:15.
It was also clearly pointed
out that when the Union talks about the "old" retirement policy, we always mean the 1964-2001 policy under which we were all
hired and signed numerous contracts. The Admin team refers to the "old" policy as the 2002 step 5 upon rehiring policy.
In
the four danko's and 4 arbitration meetings the admin team has variously been headed by Tim Thornton, Tim Ilse, the lawyers
and this time it was Noda-san. Never a Board President nor Headmaster who is in charge. It is very difficult to
have dialogue with so many different heads. Our representative, Mr. Fukuyama, has always been our spokesperson.
Next arbitration date is May 17 from 9-12 at Shinjuku.
