Mr. Peter
R. Cooper
The American School In Japan
April
23, 2002
Representation of DANKO (Group Negotiation/Collective Bargaining)
We hereby
notify you that we have joined the Tokyo Shikyoren Senshu Kakushu Gakko Branch (Federation of Private School Teachers and
Staffs Unions) and formed the American School in Japan Teachers Union on April 22, 2002.
In accordance
with the Japanese Constitution Article 28 (Guarantee for the Right of Union, group negotiation acts), we request from you
a group negotiation concerning the retirement policy.
ASIJs
normal retirement has been at the end of the year in which a teacher turns 60. When
the teacher wishes to work beyond the age of 60, the policy has been to request a waiver by October 1 of the year in which
the teacher turns 59. This waiver has been usually accepted with an annual contract.
But suddenly,
in April 2001, the School Board announced a new personnel policy regarding retirement, which added the following conditions
to the old policy: The only exceptions to this policy will be determined by the schools need for special skills or expertise.
The administrative council will make the final decision on any exceptions.
By October
1, 2001 (actually this was extended a few days), seven teachers requested the employment beyond age 60, and in the middle
of November you told these orally that there would be a termination without exceptions.
Later, this unilaterally changed personnel policy of retirement was discussed among the FSCC and a meeting was held
between faculties, administration and Board. Lots of voices were raised on this
issue. Main concerns were unilaterally changed personnel policies, age discrimination,
and evaluation system.
1.
The Retirement Policy for staff is written in
the school policies regulations (article 31) as age of 65. What about school
policies for teachers? What kind of procedure was taken to change the retirement
policies which were announced in April 2001 special skills and the no exceptions beyond age 60 which was adopted in November
2001?
In order
to change these policies in this manner, did you have a discussion with the faculty and did you register these changes at
the Mitaka Labor Standards Office?
2.
On February 7, 2002, you, on behalf of the Board,
sent a letter which stated that employment beyond age 60 will be issued at the same level at which most new teachers, staff
member, or administrator enters the salary scale (step 5) with one-year, non-regular contracts (without promotion). (This proposal was approved at the Board of Directors meeting on March 19).
You stated that teachers who were over 60 who apply may now remain at ASIJ with this condition. Is this an offer of salary reduction of approximately 28%? There
has not been much salary increase for teachers in the past 8 years and wages at the top were actually slightly reduced. Have
you realized the impact that these actions have on many of our retirement plans?
3.
You have a reason of salary reduction as financial
responsibility, but ASIJ has had record enrollment in the past few years and has pursued a lot of construction and expansion
and repair. Also a lot of money is being raised for the upcoming centennial celebration. We, as a union, ask that you open the school finances to us and show us the reason
for the salary reduction.
·
Private schools in Tokyo (K-12), under the Open
to the Public Acts of Tokyo-to, open their financial sheets to the public, and many schools voluntarily open their financial
status to the public.
·
In 1995, the Ministry of General Affairs notified
the Ministry of Education (presently the Ministry of Science and Education): In
order to ensure the transparency of school finances, the ministry should teach/assist schools to willingly open their financial
documents to the persons concerned, including parents of their students.
We request
that you (and the Board) consider this salary reduction and have a meeting with us.
Henceforth, the union will represent our members in any issues and concerns.
Our union hopes that this issue would be solved honestly through such a meeting.
Awaiting
for the reply of a collective meeting scheduled by April 30, 2002.
Tokyo Federation of Private School Teachers and Staffs Unions
Chairperson
of Executive Committee
Eiji
Aoki
Tokyo
Federation of Private School Teachers and Staffs Unions
Senshu
Kakushu Gakko Branch
Branch
manager
Toshio
Nakamura
Tokyo
Federation of Private School Teachers and Staffs Unions
Senshu
Kakushu Gakko Branch
Representive
for American School in Japan Teachers Union
Ronald
L. Dirkse
