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A Publication of the SUITE union
Vol. 1, No. 4 November 10, 1994
At the most recent negotiation the authorities stated that the Community
College teachers must agree to a new Entrustment contract by October 31,
1994:
Teachers will be asked to sign an entrustment contract. Teachers who will
not sign the Entrustment will be replaced .
Is this good faith negotiation? No: it is a sham. It is not negotiation at all-the administration is explicitly stating the main substance of negotiations, the main point of controversy, the Entrustment contract, is beyond negotiation.
Why this push to change the employment contracts to Entrustments? Please recall that Entrustments do not anticipate renewal. They cannot be relied upon for continuing employment. They do not imply a cohesive or continuing program. They are bad for the College.
The employment status of the teachers is the backbone of the successful Community College. Taking this support from the College endangers the College's two main services to Sophia:
The bridging of cultures between East and West (through language study and other subjects)
The provision of revenue to Sophia University.
Can Sophia afford to do away with the revenue the College generates? Can the administration afford to throw away the College and its reality of "internationalization"? We continue to ask: How does the Entrustment benefit the College? How is the proposed contract in the best interests of Sophia?
The authorities cannot answer. They only attempt to elide the issue by saying that "there is no change." Mark our words: Even under threat of dismissal, the teachers cannot, in good conscience, sign an agreement that endangers their school, their students and their livelihoods.
The Community College teachers will not participate in the dismantling of their school. We pledge our energy to save it from destruction! The teachers will not sit by idly while another bad decision is carried out at Sophia. Building 2 is now a parking lot. Half of the Kioisaka building cannot be used. There is a "Stairway to Heaven" at the Hatano campus. Let's work together to protect the revenue and mission of Sophia University!
Do you know the Solipsist? A solipsist is an extreme individual. This person believes the world to be centered around him. Moreover, he thinks that the world is created by him, is but a figment of his imagination. He says: "I think, therefore you are."
All too often the relevant authorities have acted in this most amazing manner. For example, when the union points out that the old contracts say "Employment Agreement" the authorities say "Oh, we meant to say Entrustment. We have been making a mistake for 20 years. Please let us clarify it." The school repeatedly says "It is our understanding that the law supports our theory."
Our understanding is that one cannot always have things just the way one would want them. We all must take into account the fact that other people exist in the world and that objective criteria (for example - the law) exist in our society. Everyone must submit to the authority of law. The negotiating team seems to prefer to submit to their convenient, unique interpretation of the law.
In our experience, it seems that we have a very different feeling of the "Golden Rule" than do the relevant authorities. We think it means "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" while the negotiating team understands it as "He who has the gold makes the rules. Whenever convenient."
An argument that we have heard through he grapevine is that the College teachers have not been "passed" by a University Faculty Department.
For the record, let us point out that the teachers of the Community College have been passed by the only Faculty committee that could possibly pass on their qualifications: the Community College Committee. This body is made of representatives from each Department of the University.
Two years ago, just after the Committee asserted its authority over the College, the teachers were asked to provide their qualifications for review. The teachers complied and the Committee "passed" the teachers. The school then gave the new title to the teachers: "Lecturer - Center for Extension Programs."
We hope that the crisis at the Community College can be averted as quickly and as quietly as possible - and to everyone's benefit. We look forward to many more years of service to the College.
SUITE: Sophia University International Teachers and Employees Union -can
be reached in care of:
NUGW 3-21-7 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
phone: (03) 3434-0669 fax: (03) 3433-0334
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 5 November 10, 1994
SUITE Newsletter
Volume 1, Number 6 December 14, 1994
SUITE Newsletter
Volume 2, Number 1 July 4, 1995
The overview: Tokyo Observer article May 1995