Japan Press Weekly

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2016 October 26 - November 1 [LABOR]

Tohoku Univ. will review plan to dismiss fixed-term contract workers

Due to the ongoing union efforts, Tohoku University has announced that it will review its plan to dismiss more than 3,200 fixed-term workers, Akahata reported on November 1.

In June, it came to light that the Miyagi-based university plans to not renew one-year employment contracts with contingent workers who finish their fifth contract year. This plan was formed apparently with the aim to evade the revised Labor Contract Act which stipulates that an employer should offer open-ended contracts to fixed-term employees when they work for more than five years. Tohoku University authorities said that they will offer indefinite contracts only to non-regular workers who are recommended by faculties as highly competent workers.

Following the university’s announcement, Tohoku University staff unions, the Union of University Part-Time Lecturers in Tokyo Area, and the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren)-affiliated Miyagi Prefectural Federation of Trade Unions (Miyagi-roren) jointly issued a statement demanding that the university offer open-ended employment contracts to all non-regular workers in accordance with the principle of the Labor Contract Act which calls for stabilizing employment.

Tohoku University management on October 18 in a collective bargaining session with the unions explained that it will draw up a new plan by the end of this year while indicating no intent to convert all non-regular workers to regular workers. The unions are determined to keep pushing the management to provide full-time positions to all contingent workers.

Past related articles:
> Contingent workers at Tohoku Univ. fighting back against dismissal plan [June 8, 2016]