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Namba 10am

I spoke with Randy who has been posting in comments and he is pissed off and not going to take it any more. He'll be in Namba at 10am tomorrow (September 20) to wave a placard and protest Nova's non-payment of salaries. If you are in the area, show up and lend your support. If you have a blog, cut and paste the news articles from here and let everyone know that Nova is insolvent and not a viable company to work for.

Japan: 
Eikaiwa: 

Comments

THANKS SHAWN.
I KNOW A LOT OF TEACHERS READ THIS FOR INFO.
GOING TO BE AN EXCITING DAY TOMORROW
HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL GET PAID- BECAUSE OF THIS...

I hope Randy and any individuals that plan to protest have a permit. They need one or they risk being arrested.

Unions don't need a permit.

call the news/newspapers and tell them, I really don't think the cops would arrest you,at worst they would tell you to put down a sign, cops talking to disgruntled unpaid teachers on the news would MOST certainly get their attention

So our (I being a Nova teacher) trainers haven't been paid. We're still waiting to see if they get paid on Friday. Our fearless leader has said (in a two sentence message on Nova's intranet) that that will happen.

In the meantime, as outsiders (or insiders)... what advice would you give us average instructors?

I mean... as of pay day we are 2 weeks in arrears... but if we wait for the next pay date and don't get paid, we're not getting paid for 6 weeks of work.

What do you think we should do?

as a trainer..id say start airticket shopping buddy!

Nova has no money - this is a fact.
Why else would us trainers get paid on a different day? We dont usually get paid on a different day!!! We usually get paid in the same "operation" as you guys. So, they are shuffling around funds and begging , borrowing stealing(and selling shares) to pay this months salaries. they know than unpaid teachers = non working teachers. I suppose they think unpaid trainers are more loyal and will be easier to string along - wrong!

It was difficult to scrape together this months pay...

How about the staff pay coming up on the 25th? How about next month? Seeing as outgoings outweigh incomings its only gonna get more difficult right?

Question : How many demo lessons have you done recently? Im a block trainer - key sales teacher in my area. Havent done a demo in 2 months!!!! I used to do em every day!!!! No demo = no sales = no cash flow = no money for teachers.

Protesting (although fun) will not help. If anything it will accelerate public awareness, which will destroy any potential sales and erode cashflow. It may help you get onto unemployment benefits sooner. i suppose thats a plus.

Perhaps they are waiting for a business angel to offer them 100 million dollars for the bean shaped tables and the IP rights to the diplomat series. Question ; would it be easier to dig nova out of its financial hole or start a new school from scratch that the public doesnt associate with illegal contracts and pink bunnies with beaks?

My recommendation : grab a beer and go sit in the park!

Seriously? you can string along AT's and Trainers of all type. Teacher walk and there is chaos, Trainers, AAMs walk, heck, even a RAAM walks, and you are ready to just shift a dude up. I mean, the most replaceable job in any situation is the bean on the hill top, right? there is always someone under him who can do the job. But teachers, man, teachers pull a fast one and that gets news...

Are we in trouble? I'll tell you what, 5 years plus gets a bloke a little extra wiggle room when it comes to sorting things out, but I still don't wanna...

You cats wanna protest, just think what you are going to do to all the other folks on the job, and even then, think about how all the students will get even further screwed if the company goes out of business. I feel bad for almost everyone involved in this. I hope you have fun, but I do have to agree, go enjoy a beer in the park, you can't really drink in public back home, and we will all be there soon enough.

In a nutshell. Stick a fork in them.. the bunny is done.
NOVA has not just lost faith with it's teachers, it has with it's customers and the general public. It will be a harsh 6 months for most language schools as there will be mud on the face of the industry (which unfortunately NOVA is the largest and biggest representative).
But following this period should be a period similar to the 80s and 90s when if you opened a language school, or came here to work you could not miss. With nearly a quarter of the industry held by NOVA the flood gates open up for new companies to really establish themselves. Pick your next company with care. Meet the management (if you can), hopefully the longest term benefit is that treating teachers/foreigners like a disposable resource becomes the nail in the coffin for companies that don't know how to motivate and lead foreign employees.
Let's hope....

I think the teachers were the only ones who kept the company afloat.
Our demo lessons , our friendliness. Of course the J staff worked hard with the admin side of things...but it was always up to the teachers and demo lessons when it came to sales.

Most teachers did their jobs well! It was the upper management of the company that were only concerned with the almighty dollar that ruined this company..... Why didnt they come down to the schools and reassure students and teachers about the future of the company?

The time to worry about students and company image has gone...It hasnt and it wont put money in the bank.
Let the so called upper staff deal with student backlash and complaints...

Every teacher has the rite to protest this bullshit!
Lets show everyone how fast the pink rabbit will collapse without its backbone!

As promised to my friends all over the country, who have not been paid and are currently owed 7 weeks outstanding salary; I was at Nankai Namba at 9:45 a.m. with signs that Read, "NOVA Has Not Paid Teachers," in English and Japanese, "NOVA is Insolvent" in English and Japanese." and "Quit NOVA Now, they have no money to pay teachers or Debts." in Japanese.
I stayed until 12:20 p.m. and made Japanese people aware. The Media including a reporter and photographer from FujiSankei did show up to take pictures and discuss the situation.
Sadly not many Instructors came, but a few did offer their support. You know who you are and Thanks Again.
A representative from the General Union also came to stand in solidarity. This is a real union. He told me in broken English that his union could not take Action but that he was there to support me. Nova employess who are not bailing ship now, The General Union might be able to Help. Their Number is 06-6352-9619.
Thanks Shawn for helping Spread the Message it helped raise the profile of the event and traffic from your site continues to be valuable to Teachers.
Kindest Regards.
Randy Poehlman.

Think of what you're going to do to all the other people. It's difficult to think straight when you have no money for food or rent. They should be thinking about us and showing some solidarity instead of turning up to a dying ship everyday. Seriously, in the current situation do these teachers really think that they are going to get paid?

I commend you Randy. If I were in Osaka or had money enough to come over I would have joined you. It's sad that there's no solidarity amongst teachers especially since they will be the ones out of money come next month

Well you proved very wrong.
There was no chance of being arrested. The police were very nice during my time there. At one point a security guard for Namba Nankai wanted to ask about the situation. I agree if I was acting threatening I may have gotten in trouble. I made signs and showed them to people and Everyone was very polite and read the signs a few times and asked questions. NOVA is in a bad state of affairs and everyone knows it. The police were friendly as always, and never once asked me to stop.
And "a Union doesn't need one." I think that is a funny suggestion. If NOVA had a Union worth Anything they would have come, but rather a member of the General Union stood with me for an hour and lended support, even though none of his people were involved.

Good on you sir!

I was working today (Not for Nova!) but if I weren't I'd have joined you to show support.

NOVA can now say they have walked back to a different era in Japanese history, or should we just look across the Ocean. Chinese companies pay only when they themselves have been paid, and rarely ever pay on intended dates. Wouldn't that just annoy the average Japanese citizen, that a Japanese company can be compared to a unethical Chinese company ?
If I was Japanese it would get up my skin!
Goodbye NOVA, in memory there are hundreds of illegal business practices placed in stone on many a News and Article archives!
NOVA, time to move to China! (Though funny enough, last I heard English teachers in CHina were getting paid.. hmmm..)

all I'm saying is that stirring up an even more negative image of the company in the media isn't going to help people get payed. All it's going to do is bring the company down further. "Quit NOVA Now, they have no money to pay teachers or Debts." Yeah well, that's going to give students incentive to join NOVA. You know the people who PAY our salaries?

I for one don't want NOVA to go down. Sure they're assholes, but I have a life here. I'm not here on a working holiday. What do you think is going to happen if NOVA goes bust? I'll tell you this right now, with a shit load of teachers out of work it's not going to be that easy to just pick up another job.

Small victory? For you maybe.

Unpaid wages (a very rough translation of Japanese law) Hopefully this will give people a little idea of what action they can take, keep in mind, the translation is a rough one, and there may be some loop hole due to a poor word choice, so be careful if you go quoting this like it's THE law:

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Regarding Unpaid Wages

?????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????
An employee’s salary is the lifeline for supporting themselves and their family. Employees are fully protected by law in that they must get paid for the work they do. Payment must be made to the employee in observance of the following criteria:
1. In Currency
2. Directly to the worker
3. In full
4. At least once a month
5. The dates must be pre-determined.

??????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????
According to the law, employers cannot cut wages or bonuses based on their circumstances. That the company is struggling financially is not a valid excuse. Furthermore, salaries cannot be paid in installments; they must be paid in full upon the pre-determined date. Failure to do so is in violation of article 3 in the above mentioned criteria. In the event that an employer should fail to meet any of the five articles above,
? ?????????????????
?????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????? ?????
? ???????????????????????????????
? ??????????????????????????????
???????????????????????
? ????????????
??????????????????????????????????
? ????? ?????????????

? ???????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????
?????????????? ??????????????????????
Listed below are the procedures employees can take to obtain the money owed:

1. Collect appropriate documentation to substantiate the dates on which you have worked. (Official records, eg. Time cards, shift logbook, pay-stubs, and in addition your contract. Also, any official documentation stating precisely when you will be paid, etc.
2. If the company makes any statement of guarantee that the employees will be paid on/by a certain date, retain a copy of said statement.
3. If the employer is unwilling to discuss the matter with the employee, then the employee needs to officially send the employer a letter with proof of delivery (called a naiyo-shomei-yubin). Be advised, getting a naiyo-shomei-yubin¬ is considered an act of aggression and may instigate hostile negotiations with the employer. It should only be used if and when the employer says they have not received and initial letter.
4. If the employer still refuses to pay, the employee should contact the The Labour Board of Japan (called Roudo-kijun-kantokusho), and submit an official claim that the employer is in violation of Roudo-kijun-hou Article 24, including all or as many of the documents listed in step 1 as the employee can.
5. Following this, bring the case to the courts.
N.B. There are two types of cases: Shougaku-soshou or Shiharai-saisoku.
There are different criteria that determine exactly which claim the employee should submit:
For the Shougaku-soshou:
• Claims not exceeding ?600,000.
• A one time claim only.
• You must carry on your person the necessary documentation as stated in step 1.
• The judge has the final decision as to how the employer can pay.

The employee can only submit the claim in the location where he/she works or where the employer is based. The cost to process this type of claim is ?7000, at the most. There is one official court date, but the entire process takes an average of 40 days to be completed.
If the employer continues to refuse to pay, the employee can then file a lawsuit against the employer.
For the Shiharai-saisoku
You bring the case to court and the judge will determine if the claim is valid or not, and the court will then order the employer to pay the employee. Claims must be well substantiated and corroborated by appropriate and valid documentation in order for the courts to order the employer to pay. If the employer refuses to pay within 2 weeks, then a lawsuit may be filed against the employer. Failure to respond to the order is considered to mean refusal to pay, in the eyes of the law. In the event that the employer refuses to pay even after a lawsuit has been filed, their assets could be frozen.
Lawsuits can only be filed where the employer is based.
?????????????? ???????????????????????????
The statute of limitations is 2 years for any claim.

I previewed the post, and the Japanese appeared, but when I actually posted it, the Japanese disappeared and was replaced by all question marks. So now it looks really dodgy... if someone could explain how to make the Japanese appear, I'll re-post it. Otherwise, you'll just have to take my word for it that I got this from an official web-site. sumimasen.

ABOUT THE ABOVE RANT-
I UNDERSTAND YOUR OPINION AND I WAS PARTIALLY DIVIDED WHEN I ARRIVED AT NAMBA THIS MORNING. BUT I HAVE ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR TRANSPARANCY AND THE PUBLICS RIGHT TO KNOW. I AM A HUGE SUPORTER OF FREE MEDIA. I CARE ABOUT THE LONGEVITY OF THIS ORGANIZATION. BUT IT HAS FAILED- MISERABLY. AND MANAGEMENT HAS SHOWED ITS CONTINUED LACK OF FAIR AND HONEST BUSINESS.
THERE WAS NO PUBLIC DISCUSSION- NOW THERE IS.
I DID NOT GO AHEAD WITH ACTION ON TUESDAY BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED ABOUT OUTSTANDING DEBTS. NOVA DELAYED FOR THE LAST TIME WEDNESDAY. IF YOU CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THIS COMPANY- IN ITS CURRENT STATE THEN GOOD LUCK TO YOU. AS FOR THE BAD PRESS. NOVA TEACHER RAISES AWARENESS TO FAILING BUSINESS HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO NOVA SUSPENDED FROM USING DISHONEST CONTRACTS- NOVA DRASTICALLY LATE PAYING TEACHERS- NOVA DEFAULTS ON RENT- NOVA CLOSES 200 SCHOOLS...ETC.
SO WHAT WOULD YOU PROPOSE CONTINUE TO SIGN STUDENTS- TAKE THEIR MONEY SO THE BUSINESS I WORK FOR CAN CONTIUE TO CHEAT THEM TO SURVIVE?

Way to go Randy! You accomplished something. You made news.

The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them. -Albert Einstein

Shawn

That's my bad. The encoding in the database was incorrect. I've fixed it for comments so posting Japanese shouldn't be a problem now.

The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them. -Albert Einstein

Shawn

Great going Randy! Finally, someone with guts to take charge of the situation and actually do something. I would have loved to join you but Osaka is a long way from Tokyo. Thanks for taking the time out of your schedule to draw attention to the situation.

I'm quite confident that Randy's above explanation, is sound enough for validating his decision.
Randy did what many of us, basically didn't have the guts to to do. The Japanese public is quite aware of Nova's problems, and one lone teacher expressing his viewpoints, for a few hours, is a very miniscule addition to this, not to belittle his accomplisments.

I've done my fair bit for Nova, and done my upmost to be the best teacher as possible,and given no recognition from this faceless company, however as another mentioned, upper management Nova has ruined it all, which always seemed to be the case.

All I can say, is if outstanding balances, are paid not tommorow, half of the workforce will be gone, myself included with the giginet tv under my arms, and a burning nova usagi vigily, I never liked that bunny anyway.

Seriously Randy, like many of your ideas, good idea, horrible execution. You left your coworkers in the dark even after you no called no showed. You screwed people over by not calling in (staff, teachers, even confused students). You turned off your phone so even people worried about you couldn't call. Much of the reasoning is for yourself. You did it for 95% ego, 5% your aspect of helping the whole. You got paid, the teachers who didn't in your area are disappionted about lowering their slim chances of getting paid. Teachers for the most part are informed by or secondhand info from this site, so they know the D-Lo. You just informed the media, which will cause current students to cancel their contracts and ask for refunds, digging the hole deeper.

Anyway, that's that. You made your point. Good luck with your future.

AS TIM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED- I DID GET PAID FRIDAY AND I DID LEAVE PEOPLE IN THE DARK- CO-WORKERS- STAFF AND STUDENTS. I WAS SICK AT THE PROSPECT OF CONTINUING TO ROW FOR THE SINKING SS NOVATANIC AND WITH ALL DO RESPECT WE ALL STAND TO LOSE- LOSE LIKE ONE OF MY FRIENDS IN KYUSHU WHO HASNT SEEN A DIME AND ASKED ME TO DO WHAT I DID- FOR MY FRIEND IN FUKUI WHO WAS PAID 6 DAYS LATE WHO WANTED TO COME- FOR THE 800 TEACHERS ACROSS JAPAN WHO HAVENT SEEN A DIME-
BOTTOM LINE- I DID NOT SHOW UP- I HAVE SACRIFICED THE POSSIBILITY OF TWO WEEKS PAY AND 5-PAID-HOLIDAYS. I USED MY DAYS AWAY FROM NOVA AS FOLLOWS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY I RELAXED AT LAKE BIWAKO WITH SOME OLD FRIENDS. MONDAY I SPENT 6 HOURS IN AN INTERNET CAFE ASSESING- TUESDAY PLACING CALLS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND ORGANIZING AND WEDNESDAY DOING THE SAME. THIS MORNING AT NANKAI NAMBA AND THIS AFTER NOON PREPAIRING MEDIA PACKAGES.
THERE WAS- AS ALWAYS A GREAT DEAL OF TALK AND NO ACTION. AS FOR MY FUTURE- `FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BOLD' I WILL BE ALRIGHT.

Don't much care for you Randy or your attention grabbing high jinks. Needed to boost your self-esteem? Not just looking for some proxy comradeship amongst the foreign community here? Had to give meaning to your evidently hollow existence in Japan? Well your meretricious efforts were wasted on this reader for one. Well now it seems you'll be leaving the company in high dudgeon; a cause celebre for us unfortunate souls left behind. Good luck to you. However, wanting to leave with your principles intact and your head held high, I fully expect at the earliest opportunity you'll be visiting the Immigration Office to voluntary have them revoke the work visa that Nova so graciously sponsored you for. Wouldn't want that stain on your passport would you? Should I hold my breath?

OK, forget optimism people. It's reality time. Best case scenario is Kanto/Kansai hold out after massive closures across the country. Thats for all the optimists out there.

My bet: It all goes under. I dont know where that guy studied business but there is no revenue and a huge committment to students to provide lessons they've already paid for. That means liabilities, big ones. Add cancelled contracts, less income from apartments hired out to teachers, legal wrangles and the general inablility of management to accept or react to the situation means down she goes.

Get out now. Go on. You'll be OK.

If you've got a return ticket, use it. If not, start sending those resumes. It's everyone for themselves. If you're thinking of coming here to work for Nova, well, think again. How much longer ca this go on?

WITH YOU- YOUR OPINIONS. WITH ME MINE.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE I HAVE THE COURAGE TO SIGN OFF ON MINE.
I AM JUST GUESSING BUT IS BEMUSED IN OSAKA YOUR GIVEN NAME?
THAT ASIDE- YES NOVA DID HELP ME WITH A VISA. NOVA ALSO HELPED MY FRIENDS IN KYUSHU- SHIGA KOBE AND TOKYO WITH VISAS TO WORK IN JAPAN- AND GUESS WHAT THEY STILL HAVENT PUT MONEY IN THEIR ACCOUNTS SO THAT THEY CAN EAT? THAT IS A PROBLEM.
TAKE AIM AT ME- I HAVE THE WILL TO TAKE YOUR AGGRESSIONS. EVEN IF YOUR IDENTITY IS HIDDEN. I WAS ONE GUY WITH A SIGN- WARNING PEOPLE OF THE DANGERS- WHEN NO ONE ELSE WOULD.
KINDEST REGARDS.

I am a Nova teacher, at least for the next few days. I'm going to jump of the ship before in turns into shit, but whatever...
Let us just be aware of what mr.Nozomu the Almighty wrote in his letter to the Japanese Staff.
Please note that this letter has no sign, no date, no stamps on it. It's a blank piece of paper prited with sentences like those I'm going to translate for you.

"we are widely aware of the branches' difficult economical situation. We are grateful for you enduring this harshness so far. This way, we can dissipate the heavy and grieving dark clouds looming on us.
In my previous communication I told you "it's always pitch black before the dawn", but eventually we can see the morning light. From next month on, there will be no need to worry about paying days.,
Given the present situation I can't guarantee anything more, but I wish you could, from now on, feel relieved and concentrate only on your work.
More, this notice is a "Company Inner Secret", you mustn't notify it's content to your students.
Be very careful on this matter."

This is how the big Boss rewards his Japanese Staff loyalty and patience with delayed payments, misteriously disappeared summer bonunes and so on.
Besides, please note the "it's our little secret, don't tell anybody, will you?" closing sentence.

Has everyone heard of SEPPUKU?

Randall, Randy, dude with a sign, what are you trippin on man?
First, I would like to ask you, how long have you been in Japan? Do you know this company? This culture? Or are you another westerner trying to impose YOUR value system on a country that opperates in a very different way?
Did you ask all 800 teachers that didnt get paid if you could represent them?
What on earth would make you think that one Gaijin with a sign, a very crappy and miserable looking sign at that, would make japans arguably No1 meglomaniac fall down and beg forgivness, or come up with money he obviously doesnt have ( in the companies accounts anyway) and pay everyone?
Your actions were narcissistic and poorly thought out.
This culture works on perception, a companies public image is important. But they are also a forgiving people, that will forget about things if the right appology is given in the right way. But even a seemingly small stunt like yours is not going to help matters. Your just putting Nova in the news again, so that those students who have stuck by us, question their decision and join the flood of people asking for their money back, and, any prospective students are further put off.
While Yes, Novas buisness plan has been highly questionable, a disaster in fact and continues to be, and while yes, the way Sahashi is dealing with this seems to display continued incompetence, there are still offers on the table out there, and it is still Japans no 1 language school. Do you know enough about Sahashi, his schemes and his connections to say for sure what is going to happen?
You may say that I am wishful thinking, I wouldnt disagree with you there, I really hope we survive, for all its thoughtless treatment of myself and others over the years, it has still enabled me to have a wonderful experience in country that I might not otherwise have been able to come to. But I get the feeling you are the kind of guy that would step on other peoples heads so that you could be the first in the life raft. Far from the Hero you obviously like to think you are.
Also, if you no showed or called in sick, did you stop to think about how you were making life difficult for those around you, the Japanese staff and other teachers?
Real Hero Bro. 'Fighting the man yeah, standing up to the establishment, power to the people, we will not be fucked over by the company that gave us the opportunity to come to Japan in the first place'!
I have no problem with protesting, but honestly man, choose yor battles a bit more wisely. After seeing your Art of war displayed, your master stroke of tactical planning, I wonder how you ever got through 8 lessons and survived this long.
Think before you act, consider those around you,The future is 50/50. Maybe we sink, maybe we are saved. Who knows. But if the pressure of the situation is digging at you, if your getting nervous, if you dont want to work, or are angry, just quit man. Go home. Piss off. Just dont make the problem worse than it already is for the rest of us on your way out.
As someone else mentioned, some of us have families, long term relationships, commitments and loyalties in tis country, we cant just, nor do we want to, jump on the next plane home, and bitch to everyone about being rolled in Japan. This is our job and income. This is our home brother. And we hope it works out for the best.
James

Thanks James!!
I couldn't have written it better myself!!
I have met my fair share of idiots like Randy who constantly complain about how everything is not like what it is back in their hometowns.
I was one of the 800 that James mentioned and you did no favor for me at all!!
IT'S TIME YOU WENT BACK HOME!!

I hear what your saying James.
Nova did give us the chance to experience this great country, it gave us a ticket, it gave us a roof, but at what cost?

If you have been here for a while and you know the country, Im sure you have come to realize the many ways Nova has exploited many a foreignor.

Most Japanese work hard because they believe in the company they work for. This comes from the employer being, if nothing else, honest with the employee.

Would you work 10-12-15 hours a day for an employer who you think is dishonest? Most Japanese have a strong work ethic as a result of their faith in a company policy which shouldnt let them down.

Do you think its common for Japanese companies to lie about paying rent?

Do you think its common for Japanese companies to offer a health insurance system that is overpriced and redundant ?

Do you think its common for presidents to pay their employees late and without prior notice?

Japanese value image as you said but they also value honesty!
That is the reason why Nova has been sued but students time and time again.
Nova was dishonest and misleading.

That is the reason why Students have quit Nova!

What randy did was Honest! Granted he could have done it with a little more style....but, he put forward the truth. It wasnt a lie it wasnt dishonest, it wasnt misleading!

Students have a rite to know if they are going to lose their hard earned money they have invested in improving themeselves.

What Randy did was put the truth out there, something our ceo has never done.
Image is important,sure, but generally speaking if it looks like shit and smells like shit, no matter what color you paint it, no matter what wrapper you cover it with, no matter what name you give it.....
Shit will always be Shit!

Well Done Randy for exposing the shit !

Let me guess, a Nova lover. Nae, a block trainer or an AAM.
Ha ha! The game is up, sir! Or is it madam?

From the AACE (the Aussie company that hires for Nova) Website:

"AACE is currently not recruiting for NOVA Group for calendar year 2008 pending a formal announcement in early october of 2008 recruitment needs.
We would ask you not to apply until that formal annoucement is made which will be no later than Friday October 5th 2007."
http://www.aace.net.au/ITR_OS/applications/notrecruiting.html

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