Comments on: Welcome to the Nova Walkout!

By: Martin

Martin — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 05:44:46 +0000

Hi guys Im sorry to say but our effective striking on October 15th in Shinjuku has directly lead to the company going bust this morning.(26th Oct, 2007) Thanks to all who took part at that time, Ill be looking forward to the next protest.

I hope this message gets out quick enough but we will go to Shinjuku NS building today at 5:30 pm in for the meeting. This meeting is held for all teachers and staff who have any questions they might have about the company. I intend to go there and ask where i can steal a Nova bunny doll. They are so cute.

Have fun, and have a good holiday from work!

By: aaron

aaron — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:11:44 +0000

Paul! You migin\’ wanker! How the heck did I run across you on this board of all places!? Send me an email and catch me up on all the gossip! Same email address. Man…glad I escaped NOVA five years ago! Cheers, big ears!

Aaron in China

By: novawalkout

novawalkout — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 18:45:22 +0000

fed up,

We’re never getting paid. There is no money. I am calling in every day – not quitting – until I find a new job.

This company is over. If staff has not been paid and we haven’t been paid, how where there be money for next month?

By: fed up.

fed up. — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 09:48:12 +0000

So we havent been paid and now, theres another pointless, disrespectful fax going round to tell us all to wait until the 25th as payment is scheduled for then-which of course, we know is not going to happen.
I didnt go to work today (sat). I really feel that a mass toppatsu has to be made to force this idiot to make a public decision. If we continue working like morons, the issue of no pay will continue. The staff alone have continued working and they are STILL waiting one month later. If he cannot pay one months salalry for staff, somebody tell me how, on the 25th hes going to find money to pay two months salary to the japanese staff, a months salary to teachers plus whatever else he owes. People who are continuing to work are being naive and taken for a ride.

I want to know if and when people plan to do a mass toppatsu. I can only see that bankruptcy being an option, and the sooner this company halts, the sooner it will happen and the sooner we get paid.

By: josh

josh — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 05:21:43 +0000

So, you didn’t get paid on the 15th nor on the 19th, what will you do now? Keep working for free? My guess is Saruhashi is writing a research report on how he can get non japanese to work like slaves treat them like shit, and keep them employed long after he stops paying them. He will publish his book early next year around Feb 2008.

By: Protestor

Protestor — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 02:30:02 +0000

hmm, maybe my maths or my information is wrong, if 60 people is 2% that means there are 3000 people working at Nova in the Osaka area, but only about 5000 in Nova in the whole of the country. That’s quite a heavy centralisation. Or did you mean 2% of the foreign workers in the whole of Nova in Japan? In which case did you really expect people to fly in from Kyushu? Hokkaido? Okinawa? Nagoya even? to protest for a couple of hours, and use up perhaps the last of their money, which they need for rent and food?

I agree 60 people isn’t a huge number, but it’s a bigger percentage of potential protestors than you give credit for.

By: Jono

Jono — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 02:11:43 +0000

Hey all,

I’m came very close to working for NOVA last year but decided to work for myself instead…and finally ended up working for a small company.

I’m really sorry to hear about all your troubles and wish everyone the best of luck!

Now, if any of you are interested, my company is looking for a good teacher to work in Kitakyushu. If there is someone who lives near there and is interested, you should try it out.

The salary is quite good, but the work is demanding! Monday to Friday from about 8am to 4pm.

check out the URL:
http://www.gaijinpot.com/job_view.php?jid=21063&rid=1&tr=1&cat=&full_part=1&position_type=&keyword=greenwood&location=40&selang=e&offset=0

If the link doesn’t work, search for Greenwood English Academy on gaijinpot.com under the the tab of Japan Jobs.

Make sure that you read everything clearly and follow the instructions because my employer is pretty picky and will only interview the best candidates.

Good luck with everything!

By: Pride

Pride — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:27:29 +0000

Mori, have you read the thread?

It doesn’t matter what customers think. You clearly have not looked at the financials. There is no chance of a financial recovery. The walkout is designed to force a bankruptcy. That’s how you’ll get your money.

After a bankruptcy, the process by which we can claim unpaid wages begins.

Contracts are meaningless, they’ve been breached. If Nova attracts, literally, a million new students in the next couple of weeks, OK, it stands a chance. It’s not in the clear, it stands a chance. Nova has broken every one of its contracts with employees and with most of its students as well.

The walkout is not drawing blood from a stone, it’s trying to force the company to do the right thing and end this farce.

Protestor, I tihnk you’re right that protesting in front of the LSO is a good idea.
However, 60 people turning out confirms my abusive comments above. If we assume the same numbers in Tokyo (not the case, but I’m giving this the benefit of the doubt), we’re looking at just over 2% of the foreign staff. Really freaking impressive. Almost 98% of the foreigners at Nova can’t be bothered to help out.

By: Protestor

Protestor — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 06:21:28 +0000

There was about 60 people at the (more useful perhaps) protest at the Labour Standards office today in Osaka, delivering a demand for the Standards office to demand wage payment and/or start criminal proceedings against Nova management for late payment of wages.
Watch the news today, there was a lot of media there.
Perhaps not all Nova teachers are “spineless, ineffectual wimps…”.

By: Mori

Mori — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:13:01 +0000

“Cannot see the forest for the trees”

Not getting paid sucks. Not knowing when or if we will also sucks. Basically not knowing much of anything at any level (having spoken with both my AAM and RAAM) sucks.

I am angry and support the idea of action, but I question if a walkout is going to get us what we want.

Some facts:
1) Students provide the company with income.
(I am not aware of another primary source at the time of writing).
2) Student based income is for lessons, kids, voice and MM.
(i.e. other forms of income like book sales are incidental and not enough to pay wages)
3) Student trust in the company has fallen sharply. (see wikkipedia for relevant sources and details)

Some math:
Less students is less income.
Less income is less pay and more delay.
Less trust is less students.

Conjecture:
A walkout costs students.

Result:
Blood from a stone.

Do the math; show me how a walkout gets me my money, and I’ll march anywhere, anytime.
Till you do the math: students are the only people who are gonna give me dollar one, so I’m working for them.

I’m looking for other work, but so are others (NB my roommates Gaba resume was the 731st).

Want to call me a plant or spineless. Fine, go ahead. But Nova doesn’t have any information about how I’m gonna GET MY MONEY and neither do you. The walkout makes working at Nova worse for anyone who stays.

Quote:
“And, for fuck’s sake, seriously, for those Nova teachers who think the company can be saved. PULL YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR ASSES. Please.”

Let me edit:
“And, for fuck’s sake, seriously, for those Walkout teachers who think the company will pay you because you walked out. PULL YOU HEADS OUT OF YOUR ASSES. Please”

Suggested plan of action:
1) Go to Work. You were contracted to.
2) Look for work. You need the money.
3) If you get an interview: Toppatsu
4) If you get a job that starts immediately: Toppatsu
5) Keep it civil and be respectful of students.

I don’t like my situation, but I don’t like the walkout idea either. I am looking for alternatives. If you have some: post them! Right now I’m trying to get more information.

Hello Work offices in Tokyo:
http://www.tfemploy.go.jp/en/coun/cont_1.html
Phone: 03-3204-8609