October 4, 2013
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2013 October 2 - 8 [LABOR]
500 professors fight in courts against massive wage cuts |
The 500 plaintiffs are members of eight unions at tertiary education institutions, such as Kyoto University, Kochi University, and the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, which are affiliated with the Faculty and Staff Union of Japanese Universities (Zendaikyo).
In April 2004, national universities and technical colleges became independent administrative corporations based on the National University Corporation Act. Since then, wages and working conditions of professors and lecturers at national universities and technical colleges have been determined through negotiations between the university administration and unions.
In July last year, however, many national university corporations accepted the government directions to follow the government employees’ wage cuts measure and accordingly decreased wages of school personnel by up to 9.77% (7.8% on average) without getting consent from their unions.
Professor Takayama Kanako, vice chair of a union at Kyoto University, said that they seek to increase public awareness through their court battle, and that it is unacceptable for education and research institutions to take such an illogical action. The union filed a lawsuit with the Kyoto District Court in June this year.
The massive pay reduction has delivered a serious blow to teaching staff and researchers at universities and other higher education facilities as shown in a survey conducted by a union at Kochi University.
According to the survey, 62% of respondents said that the pay cut has “reduced their motivation to work”.
Zendaikyo vice chair Morito Fumio said to Akahata, “University teachers should be treated as persons who play an important public role. We will continue with our efforts to win the lawsuits to this end.”
Past related article:
> Kyoto Univ. workers sue for unfair pay cuts [June 12, 2013]
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