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Jobs or the Same Old Shit?

The decision to go with G.Communication means that Nova is officially toast and that its carcass will be liquidated. Since Nova isn't worth anything, the prospects of teachers receiving their unpaid wages remain as bleak as ever.

The General Union released this statement:

November 7, 2007

Press Release

From: Katsuji YAMAHARA, Chair, General Union

Re: General Union’s view on NOVA’s Liquidation and Announcement of Partial Business Transfer

1) We have no details on the issue yet, therefore, our conclusion conclusion will have to wait until we receive a full explanation directly. We would like to be positive about a sponsor being found. However, we are concerned that this may lead to further confusion and trouble, since the conditions are so restrictive and severe.

2) There is no mention of “public support” such as utilization of public funds from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in the support proposal. As we believe that the administration is partially responsible for the bankruptcy and expansion of damages, this is in no way satisfactory. It is not too late to consider some public support to be included in the proposal.

3) We appreciate the promise by the interim trustees and the president of the sponsor company that “all of the teachers and staff who wish to be re-employed shall be employed.” Still, we would like to know how the “complete re-employment” can be guaranteed and secured publicly, when the proposed package shows such a small number of schools to be reopened with most schools being closed down.

4) It was announced that “unpaid wages will be paid through the (JLHWO’s) Reimbursement System.” However, this is a public fund with no contribution from NOVA nor the sponsor company. Also, it takes more than 6 months to process, and there is a limit in the amount you can recover. Considering the situation at the present time where many teachers and staff are running out of living expenses, unpaid wages up to today, for instance, should be provided instantly.

5) The decision to “provide no refund for the students” is too harsh. Just “discounted lessons with extra payment” is no different from other school’s “salvage lessons.” Involving the local court and the government. should be re-considered

6) The General Union, as “the union representing the workers” submitted a report to the local court and the interim trustees on November 1, 2007, in which we requested a meeting with “the Union and the NOVA student group to express their opinions directly.” It is extremely disappointing that there was no hearing or meeting held before the decision was made despite our request. We still would like a chance for discussion to be considered. Also, NOVA student group open meeting, co-organised by the General Union, will be held at 6.30 on November 16 at L-Osaka, and we would like the interim trustees to be there to present a direct explanation. Shouldn’t they demand Mr.Sahashi come along and openly apologise to those who suffered damages?

２００７年１１月７日

報道各社　さま

ゼ ネ ラ ル ユ ニ オ ン

委員長　山原　克二

ＮＯＶＡの精算と、一部事業譲渡発表に関する　ゼネラルユニオンの見解

① 未だ、詳細がわからないので、結論的判断は、直接に説 明を受けてからにしたい。協力してくれる会社【スポンサー】が見つかったことは、積極的に理解したい。しかし、教職員や生徒さんが期待し ていたより、はるか
に、限定的かつ厳しい条件であり、新たな混乱やトラ ブルが懸念される。

② 今回の支援内容の中に「経産省・厚労省による、政府基 金の活用などの助成策」が見当たらない。倒産と被害拡 大の責任は、行政にもあるので、このことは到底納得できない。今からでも、支援策を検討すべきである。

③　「教職員で、再雇用希望者は全員雇用」と、保全管理人とスポンサー会社社長が、確約されたことは、大いに評価したい。ただし、ほとんどの学校が閉鎖し、再開する学校がこんなに少ない提 案内容で、「完全雇用」がどう保障され、公的にも担保されるのか、明ら かにしてほしい。

④　「未払賃金は立替払制度で払う」としているが、これは、ＮＯＶＡやスポンサーが、まったく負担しなくていい、従前からある公的ファンドである。しかも、これには、支給上限額もあり、手続きに半年以上かかる。現時点で、多くの教職員の生活費が枯渇し、路 頭に迷っている状況を考えるなら、例えば、本日までの賃金などを、即刻支給すべきである。

⑤　「生徒さんへの返金がゼロ」というのも、あまりにも冷酷な決定である。「追加払いでの割引レッス」だけなら、同業他社 の「救済レッスン」と大差ない。今からでも、地裁・政府を含め、追 加検討すべきである。

⑥　「労働者代表の労組としてのゼネラルユニオン」は、11月1日に、地裁と保全管理人に上申書を提出した。そこで、「ＮＯＶＡ生徒の会、ともども、直接の声を聞いて頂きたい」としたが、何ら の、意見聴取も説明会もなく、決定が先行したことは、極めて遺憾である。今からでも、協議機会を検討されたい。また、ゼネラルユニオンもよびかけて、「ＮＯＶＡ生徒の会公開説明会」を、11月16日６時半より、エル大阪で開催するが、保全管理人が来て、直接の説明を、お願いしたい 。その際、猿橋氏の同行と、被害者への公開謝罪をもとめるべきではないでしょうか？

以　　上

Not a very reassuring press release, is it? This is a complete disaster. No new information and no word on when anybody will be getting paid. Worst of all, it may take six months to claim unpaid wages. At the rate events are moving, instructors might not see a paycheck until next year.

Just as I was about to say that returning home was looking like a good option, :

A company that is set to take over NOVA Corp. will re-employ all the foreign instructors and Japanese employees at the failed English conversation school, the chairman of the company has told the Mainichi.

Masaki Inayoshi, 38, chairman of "G.communication grp.", said that his company will basically re-employ all of the 4,900 foreign instructors and Japanese employees of NOVA upon their request.

G.education, a Nagoya-based preparatory school operator that is affiliated with G.communication grp., had earlier announced on Tuesday that it will ultimately take over up to 200 NOVA schools.

In an exclusive interview with the Mainichi, Inayoshi said his company will pay the same level of wages to NOVA instructors and employees as they used to receive under the failed management.

G.communication grp. is engaged in a variety of enterprises including restaurants and consulting.

So, everyone has a job again? How does this work? The Yomiuri Shimbun says that an information session and interviews will be held across Japan on November 9 and 10. Have any teachers been contacted?

This sounds like good news until you read in the Yomiuri Shimbun that G.Communication plans to open 30 schools next week under the Nova brand（ＮＯＶＡの３０教室について、来週から順次、ＮＯＶＡブランドのまま、営業を再開することを明らかにした。）.

What kind of sick joke is this? Part of me wants to say that instructors would have to be nuts to go back to the same company that screwed them over, but since so many people are short of money, some will undoubtedly have no choice but to go back.

If you're as surprised as I am, I think this reaction from Level3 in the forums says it best:

Look, if G-Com can actually pull this off:

by which I mean,

1. Getting customers who have been screwed out of several man-en to actually pay again for the lessons they already bought.

2. Get teachers to come crawling back and jumping through hoops to get their own jobs back.

3. Get teachers to work again after dodging responsibility for 2 months back pay.

4. Getting teachers who have no money to start work, and wait for at least a month to get a paycheck that is likely going to be "probational" pay for their own frigging jobs.

5. Get everyone to pretend the whole scandal never happened.

6. (Important) Get everyone to ignore the very real possibility that neo-Nova management can just say "Hey, we had no idea how screwed up this company was when we bought in, but now we know, and it just won't work, by the way, we can't afford to pay you, it's not our fault, though, Sahashi just hid so much from us, how could we know, you can collect UI... BYE!!" (except they won't btoher to actually directly TELL the new drones directly, they'll have to learn through translations of articles from newspapers right here on LJ, AGAIN!)

If they can pull this off, it will just reinforce the concept that most eikaiwa drones are pathetic sacks of shit who will bend over and take a royal screwing again and again and ask for more.

If EC can't hack it after a few months, and ANOTHER company tries to give it a shot, will you wait around for 2-3 months without pay AGAIN? Then drop your pants and bend over again?

Don't fucking join neo-Nova, for all of our sakes, and mostly for your own sake.

Definitely check the contract to see if they're gonna expect you to work at probational pay. If so, tell them to fuck themselves, we know that Nova could pull that "you're still not good enough, so you're still on probation" trick. I expect no less from neo-Nova with no doubt huge financial pressure, and low sales.

If you do join, for some reason, the most important thing for all new workers to do is GET ONLINE, and start reading LJ to stay informed! If everyone were informed, it would be a hell of a lot more powerful than the pathetic union.

Japan: 
nova
Eikaiwa: 
Naked Theft

Comments

Exactly, didn't the interviewer ask this guy why he was saying that, when his people were telling everyone else that they were going to open up only 30 schools in various obscure places. The Nova AAM's and Block Managers were in Tokyo today for a meeting...anyone know what the hell they were talking about? Surely not much because with only 30 schools there can't be much call for them...maybe that's why my AAM hasn't got back to me about it. The newspapers in this country are useless.

Has anyone heard any details about those supposed information sessions on the 9th and 10th?? as in where, what time etc??

It's very easy for people not in the middle of the NOVA mess to tell others "don't take it in the ass again! say no!". People who are in a slow job market flooded by thousands of unemployed teachers, who can't afford to pay their rent or support themselves, and/or people who have visas set to expire soon and want to stay here...they're all going to jump on the bandwagon because they don't have a lot of choice. You said as much yourself.

If "G Communications" can be used to help get back on one's feet, score a visa extension, and then be ditched the moment a better job shows up, who the hell wouldn't? There's a risk that it'll tank, and everybody'll lose all over again. But even a shitty job is better than no job at all.

Today should have been the day Nova let go all of its remaining instructors (and staff).

G Com have now got what they want and the remainder of the company is now in liquidation mode. If this is so then all employees should be sent the following documents from Nova and the trustees immediately,

1. Retrenchment note/separation papers. (to take to Hello Work)

2. Payslips or invoices stating the non payment of wages for the period September 1st to November 8th (to take at a later date to our local city hall/labour office to claim unpaid wages).

3. As a courtesy they can stick a flyer in regarding the so-called info session being proposed in the coming days for any body interested in re applying to work for G Com's Nova.

I for one will have nothing to do with G Com or its Nova reincarnate. I don't think G Com fully appreciate or understand the state of bad blood and hate the instructors have for their former employer let alone the ex CEO.

To be honest I think I have handled things pretty well up until now. Money will be tight for a while and I have other commitments here in Japan but I would be kidding myself if I tried to go anywhere near an eikaiwa centre for a while.

My mind and heart are just not in it.

FYI...

November 8, 2007

All staff and instructors

Nova Corporation
Interim Trustees
Toshiaki Higashibata
Noriaki Takahashi

Concerning Nova Corporation (hereafter referred to as Nova), it was found that it was difficult for the company to recover without the support of a sponsor and, as there has been some urgency since the value of the business is eroded with each day that passes, we the trustees have been focusing on selecting a sponsor. We now inform you that G.communication Co. has been selected as a sponsor (it is planned that the actual transferee will be its group company G.education Co.). Business property for Nova's main businesses (Ekimae Ryugaku, Nova Kids, Ochanoma Ryugaku) will be handed over to the sponsoring company in the near future and business operations will resume promptly as a new Nova, managed by this new sponsor.

Regarding you, the employees, (including those of affiliated companies) we inform you that the sponsor has made an arrangement in which the employees, in principle, will be employed by the transferee following an interview.

Also the transferee has offered to consider providing some interim livelihood support to the newly hired employees, according to the circumstances of each person as discussed in the interview.

For the previous unpaid wages, they will be paid within a certain range and under certain conditions through the unpaid wage reimbursement system by The Japan Labor, Health and Welfare Organization. Regarding the procedure to prepare the required document(s), we will inform you of this at a later late; it is expected to take several months for the unpaid wages to be paid to you.

Please refer to the organization's website （http://www.rofuku.go.jp/）for an explanation of this system.
【Information session for employees】

We inform you that there will be information sessions for employees held on the following date/times.

Following each session it is planned that a government agency information seminar will be held regarding related matters at the same venue.

Please note that those who are not employees are not permitted to enter the venue.
Date and times: November 10, 2007 10:00 and 14:00
Location:

1.Nova Multimedia Center
Kintetsu Shin Namba Bldg, 16F and 17 1-4-38 Minatomachi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka-shi
(We ask that if possible Multimedia Center instructors attend the 10:00 session, and Kansai branch instructors attend the 14:00 session)

2. Nova Tokyo Head Office
Shinjuku NS Building 23F 2-4-1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
(We ask that if possible instructors from area 2, area 4 and area 8 attend the 10:00 session and Kanto branch instructors from other areas attend the 14:00 session)

3. Some branch locations (to be announced)

* The content of the session starting from 10:00 and that of the session starting from 14:00 will be the same, so please do not attend both seminars as the capacity of the meeting place is limited.

I am tempted to say that I hate all those fools who are willing to go back to Nova having been robbed of your last 2 months' salary, but I realise circumstances have made you pathetic. Those who are loyal to Nova deserve to work for G Comm and be fucked over again due to your stupidity. Those who have no other choice but to work for the new slave masters have my pity.

Does anyone know if the letter (from the trustees) posted is real?

It mentions two locations for the Osaka meetings, Kintetsu Shin Namba Building and 1-4-38 Minatomachi...are they going to have two meetings at both places 10am and 2pm?...is the Kintetsu Building the MM center in Namba?...where/what is the Minatomachi location (a NOVA branch)?

Appreciate anyone who could pass on any info.

I spoke to someone at FP tonight and they did mention there would be meetings this Saturday (10am and 2pm). They did not mention anything about meetings on Friday like the newspapers did. FP said info would be up on the NOVA website...but as of yet it is still not there yet...

an old sucker is reborn into a new one, every two minutes.

Is anyone out there that has read the announcement on Nova website yesterday ( ) as angered as I? The notice was completely unapologetic and the part about our UNPAID back salaries is wordred in such a way that it sounds like the money that is owed to us is a privillage rather than our legal right.

Here's the quote:
"For the previous unpaid wages, they will be paid within a certain range and under certain conditions through the unpaid wage reimbursement system by The Japan Labor, Health and Welfare Organization. Regarding the procedure to prepare the required document(s), we will inform you of this at a later late; it is expected to take several months for the unpaid wages to be paid to you."
This sounds very conditional and unapologetic to me. We have all worked that month and a half! We have every right to those wages!! Don't make us wait 'several months' and sound like we should be thankful that we will be paid within a 'certain range' and under 'certain conditions.' This is complete and utter rubish!

Also, what kind of "sponsor" is this?? They take the bits they like and leave all of us with nothing! It seems that they have taken none of the liabilities and left us, the teachers, the students, and the government holding the bag! I don't like to Japan bash and, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't know if this kind of deal would fly in most of our homelands.

I REALLY don't think that anyone with any dignity or self respect should join this new company. Joining this won't help anyone but G. Communication Co. and would mean that you support this very very bad deal.

SO PLEASE, FOR EVERYONE's SAKE, DON'T let this ABOMINATION continue! Take a stand, get off your bottoms and find a new job because there are plenty out there!

Why does NOVA once again have to ruin my weekend plans. Fuck you NOVA. I have had enough. Do they assume the last month for us has been one giant fucking weekend?

Fri, 11/09/2007 - 10:08 — Mr. Bombastic (not verified)

Certainly a lot of people have been saying a lot of different things about 'taking it in the ass' and how no one should want that.

I guess I only want to say, There is a whole industry that 1/3 devoted to that.

Actually, what I find so funny is the way that everyone is so eager to use sexual metaphors for situations of distressed. "Yer Screwed" "bent over" "taking it up the ass"

Aren't these well, derogatory? I mean, ultimately these say 'you are weak and stupid.' but don't these also imply that you are a woman, and, anyone who uses these things in a negative context is a sexist? or, at least, doesn't enjoy sex.

I don't know. Perhaps my own enjoyment comes from the fact that a lot of people parade as 'intelligent' and then drop unwittingly racist, misogynist, or simply, ignorant language all about the place. Please, by no means should you stop on my account, I myself tend to employ a whole different approach to revealing my ignorance, I just make an effort to be aware of it.

Now, should I wear a suit to the interview on sunday?

On topic now... seems like there is a meeting soon, you should call your Japanese staff boss, or, someone, to find out when and where in your are, in Sendai, on the 10th at Ekimae.

but... I don't know the time yet.

Fri, 11/09/2007 - 10:11 — Mr. Bombastic (not verified)

Sheesh, I need to get out of bed and have breakfast before I write something. Mistakes abound... my apologies, or some piece of Apollo

Get this..

>Regarding you, the employees, (including those of affiliated companies) we inform you that the sponsor has made an arrangement in which the employees, in principle, will be employed by the transferee following an interview.<

Does this make any fucking sense to anyone??
Excuse me but "the sponsor" has made no such fucking arrangement with me!

So I guess what they are saying is that we may have a job for you further down the track if you are prepared to wait!

"in principle"?? WTF?? Aren't they really saying "yes, we will have a job for you sometime in the future..but DON'T CALL US WE'LL CALL YOU when and if this whole mess will work out".

In the meantime here's a "Hello" Poster for you to practice with at home (he-he) while we go round up another 400000 suckers for you to teach.

Anyway..

I have to agree that we have done ourselves no favours by continuing to work for free beyond October 15th and having that disgraceful excuse for a union encouraging us to teach for food. No fucking wonder Mr Inayoshi must feel we are the most gullible easily manipulated lot and thinks he can now dish this out on us.

I really respect all of you guys who called it quits ASAP last month but I guess I was hopeful of somehow things working out a little better than this. I was also worried that quitting suddenly may have caused hassles re UI.

I will go to the meeting in Tokyo tomorrow mainly for the second one regarding Government information.

I don't want too sound arrogant but I feel the Ex directors, Anders L and co should be present at these meetings and make some kind of formal apology (afterall this is Japan) on behalf of Nova for the deceit, burden and downright disrespect they have shown for their all too faithful employees in the last four to five weeks. I know some guys who have been with the company 10 - 15 years and now they are expected to come grovelling back.

Alright then...who's up next??
Anyone like to comment??

Cheers and see you down at Shinjuku tomorrow.

TL

Mr. Bombastic... Shut the fuck up. We all got fucked in the ass. Men and women and children can be raped. There is no one gender or racial specific group that doesn't run the risk of some psycho raping them. We have all been ass raped here. It's a fucking metaphor. Deal with it. God damn you are really fucking off topic. Don't post anymore ok...

Yes Mr.Bombastic, you should wear a suit to the interview. G-Com is planning to hire 30 of the best dressed intructors still eager to get their job back.

Wait a sec! Did you say suit? Is it because you are a man? Why do you have to pigeon hole gender with such superficial and socially conditioned elements such as clothing? My gosh, how ignorant can YOU be?

Dude, that sexist post was the lamest ever.

I assume that Mr Bombastic (doesn't that name carry a certain mysoginistic vibe) was referring to my last post 'pity the pathetic'. As has been pointed out in another post men can be raped in the ass and it refers principally to an unpleasant act being forced upon you against your will. What about gay men that may also enjoy a bit of brown love? Why have you excluded them? Are you an intolerant, sexist homophobe?

My statement wasn't sexist and yes in case you haven't noticed WE ARE weak and vulnerable with absolutely no control of the situation, and by the sounds of it you are more vulneable than me as i've got a new job (although i'm still struggling as I haven't received my frst paycheck).

My enjoyment has come from your ironic email where you imply that you are not weak but in control of the situation and at the same time discuss how best to grovel to the next batch of cruel masters because you didn't have the foresight to get another job. Then you smugly talk about how you sit in your lofty position, looking down and dismissing the intelligence of others and how you effectively manage the perception of your own ignorance yet you only end up looking like an illogic ass. (Don't bother overanalysing the last 'ass' as this time i'm referring to the donkey)

It just sounds like you are brown nosing, both in terms of the neo-nova-nazi movement as well as with the ladies. You should get off your knees as:

a. Women don't really respect gutless men and overly sensitive new age guys;
b. Judging by another article Saruhashi surrounded himself with yes men to cater to his ego and we all know the damage that can be done when surrounded by by these people professing their 'blind loyalty'. Well, blind loyalty in his case is stupidity and once again displays your lack of reasoning, logic and intelligence; and
c. That's the most vulnerable position for an ass raping!

Finally, my point isn't too demonise you or cut you down. It is merely to point out that anyone can nitpick over words and sentences and read things out of context then criticise. Hell, the major religions do it all the time! And we all know that intelligent logic and fundamental belief are at odds. Anyway guys, hope for the best, expect the worst as the butt pounding is far from over!

I have a quick question to anyone who knows and that is:

Can we still quit now and get UI or do we now have to wait 6 months to see a portion of the back pay?

and

Why hasn't the head office been answering any phone calls as of today November 9th? It seems strange, but for some reason they should be open all day today and they are not. Anybody want to shed some light on this? Thanks

Anyone who did not bail from Nova months ago was severely lacking either in brain cells or options.

Those kept working even after the that crappy company, with its failed business plan etc. could not pay them were simply just morons beyond belief.

I do not think those people deserve much of anything. They were just idiots. Why should our tax dollars reward the totally stupid??

How anyone who could get another job would put up with this is beyond me. How anyone who could get a better job would have stayed with Nova in the first place is also beyond me. It seems that there are truly insecure, desperate people out the who this G-communication group will rape, butt-f**k, shove it up the ass, whatever euphemism you choose.

I just hope that anyone who wants to will very soon have a chance to move on to better things.

Isn't hindsight wonderful

there is a memo about the information sessions to be held tomorrow on nova's website: nova.ne.jp under the link at the bottom for instructors and staff.

I wish people would stop bashing the nova teachers who got screwed. A lot of them didn't have much of a choice. I don't live in a big city where I can just go get a 'better job'. I would have if I could. Shit I would have left the country months ago if I could, but some of us have family to look after or visas to prepare (i.e so we can take our families to our home countries and try to get a job their). We weren't stupid, naive or any of that bullshit. We just didn't have much choice and were hoping for the best.

Anyway, regarding unemployment. Anyone who quits after the 26th Oct can get UI at the fastest rate (but still not so quick). You can hand in your resignation and ask to get all the appropriate papers (work discontinuation certificate and unemployment insurance certificate) which you will need before going to hello work (I tried without them and they said they couldn't help). Unfortunately nova probably won't get the papers out to you for up to 2 weeks. By law they must get them to you within 10 days (but nova doesn't care much for the law). If 10 days pass and you still don't have the papers take a copy of your resignation, two 3cm x 2.5cm photos, some ID and go to hello work. Explain the situation and hope for the best.

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