Thread by @beingtokyo

So. Let's talk about unions. In addition to many hats I wear, I also am an executive of @Tozen_Union and I'm passionate about labor rights.

I don't begin to understand why more people don't join unions in Japan. Guess it's because too many people are temporary. That seems silly.

I feel strongly that one of the reasons wages are down and conditions are worse, exploitation normal is because of people not caring.

I wish people would think about how what they put up with off the plane or boat sets things up for future people or permanent immigrants.

And it may have started with foreign factory workers, students, and English teachers, but it's spreading to the native Japanese population.

Casualisation of work is a threat to everyone. And I've seen some of my public school teacher coworkers deregularised!

Last year I worked with an English teacher who is on 1 year contracts. This year my department head, my 担当, is deregularised. Public school!

This is absolutely insane. And we need more people actively engaged in collective bargaining to stop this trend. Not just in education.

Everything is turning to freelance, temporary, dispatch, per portion work agreements. It hurts workers, families, students, and consumers.

If we were all in unions and union federations, we'd all be a lot stronger in our workplaces. Thinking it doesn't matter to expats hurts us.

Because when employers get used to exploiting workers, they won't stop when one person demands they do so. They'll find someone else.

And when you accept a low wage, shitty conditions, lack of benefits, you lock that offer in for your replacement. And we all suffer.

The remedy to this joining union and negotiating collectively. The remedy is, by the way, constitutionally guaranteed. Civics rant ahoy!

In Japan you have the constitutionally protected right to be in a union. Period. You have the right to collective bargaining and action.

Don't ever let someone tell you that you can't join a union or that you must join a specific pre-selected "union." This is bullshit.

Also you don't need to stand for organisations choosing "worker reps" in an undemocratic manner. You have a right to a ballot vote!

However, union membership in Japan is not for the timid. It's not going to be a secret. Don't expect union execs/orgs to do all the work.

For it to matter, it must be declared. It's not a trump card you pull out the moment your employer tries to unfairly fire you.

It's about solidarity, visibility, and collective bargaining. You must be known and seen. You must take a collective stand. Groups matter.

Don't join a union thinking it's an insurance product. It's not. That's not how unions work. At least not in Japan.

If you join, and you should, you may be the first at your workplace. It will be up to you to organise your workplace into a local. It's hard

But it's worth it when you get that sweet, sweet labor management agreement because you and your coworkers came to a group decision to fight

If you're only in your workplace for a few years, you can still help. Even if you don't manage to improve conditions for yourself, you help.

You lay the groundwork for an LMA in the future. You let employers know that there is a line in the sand. This far, no farther. Like Picard.

You should also know that while employers may try to take action against you and this seems frightening at first it's illegal to retaliate.

There is an entire set of law that just deals with labor relations law. How employers interact with unions.

Union interference/bad faith negotiation/Refusing collective bargaining are UNLAWFUL. Period. And Labor Commission exists for this reason.

Fair warning, should such unlawful action take place, it will mean going to labor commission. This takes time. Sometimes it's worth it.

Unions have access to lawyers, and we at Tozen are happy to set up lawyer consultations if necessary. Some fights aren't worth it. Many are.

You won't know until you sit down with us and tell us your work situation. How bad or, hopefully, how good. Because when it comes to unions

The worst time to join is when you have a problem. The best time to join is when things are good. You can build that local much more easily.

Please email [e-mail] or ask me any questions now if you have them. I'll be here all week and am happy to do so.