25/03/2020
Hi NETs,
Yesterday, was the last day of our negotiations for the year and the BOE presented their reply to our main 3 demands:
1. With respect to Sick Leave becoming unpaid, the BOE has not rescinded their stance. The BOE reiterated that ONLY unpaid leave will be given if a NET cannot fulfill their duties due to inevitable illness/injury (including those at the workplace). OFSET did not accept such a response, especially as teachers, who are often more exposed to illness and overwork, in addition to other prefectures ensuring their employees have paid sick leave.
2. With respect to 5 days paid Special Summer Holiday being withdrawn, if deemed necessary (by the principal) for health management during summer, NETs will be given 3 days paid Special Summer Holiday. OFSET’s clarified with the BOE that despite this decision being at the discretion of the principal, there is NO REASON for it NOT to be granted. As for the number of days being reduced to 3, the BOE said this is in accordance with a National Government law, which states that if part-timers work 5 days a week (regardless of the total number of hours they actually work), are entitled to be granted a maximum of 3 days paid Special Summer Holiday.
3. With respect to Bereavement Travel leave being withdrawn, the BOE has maintained their stance that despite NETs having to travel abroad, they will not be granted the necessary travel days in order to fulfill their bereavement leave. They stated that Japanese part-time workers also won’t be given such allowances, as they choose to turn a blind eye to the reality that even the most difficult travel for Japanese nationals is still infinitely easier than the travel time necessary for us foreign nationals to return to our home-countries.
For 3 hours, OFSET Officers asserted yet again how unfair these conditions are, especially for NETs who already work hours comparable to full-time employees, but will be forced to share the same general working conditions with those who work the minimum amount of hours necessary to qualify as a part-timer (e.g. 1 hour).
The BOE alluded to the fact that since 2020 is the first year of the KNNS system (2020 Changes), that they must strictly adhere to the KNNS Manual, BUT if significant flaws are found upon ex*****on, there is a possibility to continue negotiations with OFSET and have conditions customized for 2021.
It should also be made clear that the BOE explicitly stated that under the new KNNS system, the fate of NETs has now become a part of a unanimous decision making process involving other divisions/departments affected by the KNNS system, some of which have no relation to the education sector, nor have their employees conditions worsened in the process. This is unacceptable.
We’d like to thank the NETs who attended yesterday’s meeting, and those of you who continue to show your support in various ways.
みなさん, おつかれさまです!
With the new school year right around the corner, NETs can look forward to receiving a bonus and 3 days paid Special Summer Holiday under the new KNNS system. Regardless if you have been directly affected by the removal of any of our current conditions, your rights to conditions that NETs have had for almost 30years still directly affects you, the NET. With that said, OFSET is looking forward to your continued support in the new fiscal year as we continue to fight for fairer working conditions.
Questions? Concerns? Want to join OFSET? Feel free to contact us via messaging this page and we’d get back to you at our earliest convenience.
