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Page To the Editors: 21 July 1995
Congratulations to Local 1199 and many thanks to The Nation
for Josh Daniel's excellent article Sisters, Can You Spare A Dime?
(July 10, 1995). In this age of decertification and declining union membership
it is heartening to learn of the enlightenment and empowerment the nurses
achieved through their union.
The threats to workers posed by "downsizing" and by the "part-timing"
of employees will continue to be among the critical human issues of tomorrow
- like Union Local 1199 we should all stand up for our rights today!
We too were faced with the wrenching, but ultimately liberating, decision to organize. For over 20 years our school (the Community College of a Catholic university in Tokyo) was a great place to work. There was absolutely no need to unionize -- at least not until the secular side of the school's administration attempted to change our employment contracts to a "consultant" status. We were literally told "Accept the 'temporary' contract or leave." Neither alternative being acceptable, we stayed, determined to try to keep our jobs, our school and our lives intact. Temporary teachers do not a strong school make!
Our union the Sophia University International Teachers and Employees union (SUITE) accomplished its goals by using much the same means as Local 1199. For example, by contrasting the Church's doctrines on the dignity of work to the administration's actions, we showed the importance of treating workers with respect and the consequences of failure to do so.
Like the nurses, many of us had a great deal of apprehension regarding forming a union. It seemed a traitorous act! But we realized soon enough that it would betray our self-respect and our students if we allowed the marginalization of either ourselves or the program. After a long and frustrating fight, we are glad to report that by working together we preserved our school, our contracts and our job security. Moreover, it seems we have established better communications with the administration: at the least they are taking us more seriously than before. Now, we are hopeful for our school's future. If more unions can achieve either a modest victory as we did, or an outstanding one such as Local 1199 did, we can be more hopeful for the future of all workers.
We have faith that Mr. Daniel's article and Local 1199's shining example will give nascent unions the courage to form and the energy to persevere. To working men and women of the world we say "Gambarimasho!" --Let's do our best!
Yours Truly,
Kevin Cleary and Fabienne Guillemin (Secretaries General, SUITE union)
SUITE Newsletter
Volume 1, Number 1 July 4, 1994
SUITE Newsletter
Volume 1, Number 2 October 1, 1994
SUITE Newsletter
Volume 1, Number 3 October 25, 1994
SUITE Newsletter
Volume 1, Number 4 November 10, 1994
SUITE Newsletter
Volume 1, Number 5 November 25, 1994
SUITE Newsletter
Volume 1, Number 6 December 13, 1994
SUITE Newsletter
Volume 2, Number 1 July 4, 1995
The overview: Tokyo
Observer article May 1995
Letter to the editor of The
Nation