英文チラシ

Workers' representative election
Vote Endo Vote for the
General Union

An Important election is taking place between Wednesday 5th and Tuesday 18th of December. The election is for a workers' representative for the Kinugasa campus. Under the Japanese Labour Standards Law, before management can change working rules, or require workers to work over-time, they need the agreement either of a union representing 51% of employees, or of a workers representative, elected by over 50% of employees.

At Ritsumeikan there is no union representing over 50% of the workforce. The biggest union on the campus is the Ritsumeikan Kyoshokuin Kumiai. However, this union doesn't have the fifty-percent necessary to appoint the representative. In fact its membership is only open to full time academics and office workers who make up only 567 or the 1,487 person Kinugasa workforce. The many categories of limited term contract workers total 920 or nearly 62% of the workforce.

Candidates
Like last year, when the General Union's campaigning forced the first contested election in the history of Ritsumeikan, the General Union will again be contesting the election on the Kinugasa campus. Our candidate is Endo Reiko, GU Vice-Chair. Reiko has a proud record of fighting for the rights of casual, limited term contract and part-time workers. We believe that it is time for the voice of this long neglected majority to be heard. The only other candidates standing is Sato Harukichi of the Kyoshokuin Kumiai.

Why vote?
The workers representative has the power to sign away important rights, like the right to decide whether or not you want to work overtime. He or she also has the right to approve changes in our working conditions. We believe a solid vote for Reiko in this election will strengthen our hand in future negotiations. It would be a victory for all workers at Ritsumeikan. Conversely, a poor vote will send a message to management that we can be ignored.

Where and how to vote?
Sennin, Ninkisei, Jokin and Hijokin who are based in a faculty, can vote in the faculty offices.. Shokutaku will vote in the faculty where they have most classes. Voting is by secret ballot, with sealed boxes in all of the faculties. You should mark the ballot paper by marking a circle next to your candidate of choice and not by putting a cross against the candidates name.

General Union
At Ritsumeikan the General Union is campaigning for:
- An end to three, four, five and other term limits on the renewal of contracts
- NO to outsourcing. NO to the replacement of existing employees with dispatch workers.
- For Ritsumeikan to directly employ all workers presently dispatched to the film school or anywhere else that outsourcing has been introduced.
- For better facilities for non-permanent workers. Lockers and ID cards for hijokin and proper offices for shokutaku.
- Opposition to the new working rules and disciplinary code that management is presently introducing.

Changes in working rules and a new disciplinary code are being made ostensibly in response instances of misappropriation of funds and bribery. While we have no objection to severe disciplinary measures being taken against those guilty of such actions, we believe that the proposed change are too sweeping, vague and give to much power to Ritsumeikan management. If Reiko is elected she will oppose the blanket changes.

Vote for Endo Reiko
Vote for the General union
The General Union is a union open for anyone to join regardless of employment status. For more information contact sodan"at"generalunion.org Tel: 06-6352-9619, Fax 06-6352-9630