STEP 1
INDIVIDUAL
ORGANISING TRAINING
Talking Union: Building the union one step at a time
Training Outline ・ 50 minutes
Intro:
Why this training exists
The Numbers Don't Lie:
• 70% of our new members join through personal introductions from existing members
• So if we can get this number up and build even more knowledge and confidence, we could be doing that much better
• But we never had anything to help individual members with those everyday conversations
The Gap:
• Members kept asking: "You tell us to talk to our coworkers, but what do we say? How do we do it? Where? When?"
• We're great at explaining the "why" but not so good at the practical "how"
• Especially if you're a bit nervous about having these conversations
• So we invented the Individual Organising Training (IOC).
What This Is:
• Practical advice for confident conversations with coworkers about the union
• Adding a little boost to something that's already working well
• Not rocket science – just what we call “union common sense”
Section 1:
Your Right to Organise--A Strong Legal Foundation
Your Legal Rights
• Union rights are constitutionally protected in Japan (Article 28)
• Workers have three fundamental rights: to organise unions, bargain collectively, and take collective action (strike)
• The Trade Union Law Article 7 requires employers to negotiate in good faith and prohibits unfair labour practices
• These apply to all workers regardless of nationality, visa status, or employment type
• Even one member has these rights - employers must engage in collective bargaining regardless of union size
• This system allows us to deal both with individual grievances at any employer, and to also build numerical strength in workplaces to win improvements in wages and conditions
Your Legal Rights in Practice - Organising in the Workplace
• We are not a secret society, but rather an open organisation exercising legal rights
• Talk to coworkers about unions during breaks
• Distribute union materials during non-work time, even if company rules say you need permission
• And as long as you do not interfere with company operations and do it during break times, the Supreme Court has upheld these rights repeatedly
&/but...
Smart Organising Practices:
• Being thoughtful about how we organise—whether that's talking to coworkers or handing out materials—avoids putting colleagues in a corner. They take the material and risk having a boss see them, or not take the material and snub your colleague.
• Good organising requires forward planning on the best way to approach workmates.
• Just because it's your right, doesn't mean you have to do it. Making plans based on the reality of the workplace is the smart way to organise.
GOLDEN RULE #1
Being Honest About Risks:• Everyone wants to know the risks and that's a good thing. People that believe in risk are less likely to be reckless in organising.
• If we don’t address risk people will think we’re hiding something because everyone wants to know... Can I get fired?
• It's the most asked question (including those who want to ask but don't want to look scared). The answer is... YES, but most likely not.
• people do get fired for organising unions - it's illegal, but it happens
• Will I be harassed? Treated unfairly? YES and YES, but most likely not.
• it's rare and not something to concentrate on or spend lots of time discussing
• So, don't try too hard to convince people they won't get fired—deal with it openly, clearly, and move on
• At the end of the day--the union gets one-hundred times more the number of calls from NON-UNION members who got fired.
Section 2A:
Five More Golden Rules of Organising Conversations**
1. “Listening Before Talking”
Most activists jump straight to "here's how the union fixes this" the second someone mentions a problem. Find out what's really bothering them first.
3. “Don't chase the loudest complainer”
They're often just venting. They are usually not organising material.
Best not to waste time.
5. “You don't need to sell the union every time you talk”
Raise it now and then as part of an ongoing relationship but it should be a constant barrage. If you get labelled the “union bore”, no one will listen.
2. “Connect individual issues to collective action”
Use your own experience if it helps, but don't oversell. Talk about what the union can and can't do.
4. “One conversation won't convert anyone”
Budget for a second and third. That's not pressure, that's how relationships work.
Section 2B:
Now, thinking about your own workplace.
Text
Section 3:
Tools and Resources
活用できる情報と資源
Be Honest When You Don't Know:• When someone asks something you don't know, don't pretend to know and make stuff up, that's how bosses treat workers - say "I don't know, but I'll find out and get back to you"
• This honesty opens up another opportunity to talk to them again and builds trust
• You can't know everything, but you need to know something about the union to be effective
わからないときの基本姿勢知らないことを質問されたときは、適当な答えをしてはいけません。それは管理職が部下によくする対応です。「申し訳ありませんが、その質問にはすぐにお答えできないので、調べてからまた連絡します」と答えましょう。この正直な姿勢によって、再度話をする機会が生まれ、信頼関係を築くことができます。すべてを知っている必要はありませんが、基本的なことは理解しておき、効果的な活動ができるよう準備しましょう。
So, Where Do You Go When You Need to Know:• If you want to learn more about labour laws The main resources are www.generalunion.org and the Giant FAQ of Unions in Japan
• More than likely, if you go to the website you'll find the answer to most questions
• Consultations are available for both members (send an email), and non-members through genu.cc/consult
• Your branch leader is a good first contact for problems that aren't too big
情報収集の方法労働法について詳しく知りたい場合は、まずwww.generalunion.org/jp をご覧ください。日本の組合に関する包括的なFAQも用意されています。サイトを見れば、多くの疑問は解決できるはずです。相談については、組合員も非組合員も、genu.cc/consult-jp からアクセスできます。比較的軽微な問題であれば、各支部の責任者にまず相談するのが良いでしょう。
Resources to Make You a Better Organiser:These are the tools we have and information that's already available to make you a better organiser. When people ask you questions about how our union functions, you'll know - and here's where you can get those details:• Giant FAQ sp.genu.cc/giantFAQ : Familiarise yourself with this for general information about the union - how it operates, structure, dues, etc.• Website (www.generalunion.org): Loads of information about different kinds of laws - parental leave, employment insurance, workplace rights, etc.• Union Orientation: If you haven't gone yet, go - that's where you'll learn most about union structure and how it's run• Consultations: Know that non-members can get help too genu.cc/consult• E-news signup: Know how to get people connected genu.cc/e-news• Training opportunities: People can take Individual Organising Training even as non-members [sp.genu.cc/step1]• Twice monthly labour bulletins: Chalk full of information on new labour laws, court cases, and other news from the world of work in Japan. Download the PDFs at genu.cc/category/labour-bulletin/
より良い活動のための学習機会以下の資源を活用して、より効果的な活動ができるよう準備を進めてください:• 組合によくある質問sp.genu.cc/giantFAQ : 組合の運営、構造、組合費などに関する基本情報が網羅されています• 公式サイトwww.generalunion.org/jp : 育児休暇、雇用保険、職場の権利など、各種労働法に関する詳細な情報があります•組合オリエンテーション: まだ参加されていない方は、ぜひご参加ください。組合の構造と運営について最も詳しく学べる機会です•労働相談: 非組合員も利用できることを知っておきましょう(genu.cc/consult)•メールマガジン: 仲間を増やすために、登録方法を把握しておきましょう(genu.cc/e-news)• 研修機会: 非組合員でもこの個人組織化研修を受講できます• 隔週労働通信: 日本の労働分野の新しい法律、判例、ニュースが満載です。genu.cc/category/labour-bulletin-jp/?lang=ja/ からPDF版をダウンロードできますこれらの資源をよく知っていればいるほど、会話に自信を持って臨めるようになり、質問された際にも的確に対応できるようになります。
About the Giant FAQAt present, our website has a small FAQ, and the link takes you to an expanded FAQ that is currently available only in English. This FAQ is still under development and will be expanded over time.
We encourage participants in this training and all union members to send us any questions they have about the union. Questions from new members are especially valuable.
We will incorporate these questions into the FAQ and update it periodically so that it becomes a living resource that grows over time.
ジャイアントQ&Aについて現在、ウェブサイト上には簡易版のFAQがありますが、リンク先には英語のみの拡張版FAQがあります。現在このFAQは整備中で、今後充実させていく予定です。
この研修に参加されている方や組合員の皆さんから、組合について知りたいことや疑問点をぜひお寄せください。
特に新しい組合員の視点からの質問は貴重です。寄せられた質問を反映し、FAQを定期的に更新していくことで、生きた資料として発展させていきます。
TRAINING DATES:
Thursday, 3 September・9月3日(木) 19:00〜20:00
Tuesday, 8 September・9月8日(火) 12:00〜13:00
Saturday, 12 September・9月12日(土) 10:00〜11:00
Wednesday, 16 September・9月16日(水) 19:00〜20:00
Sunday, 20 September・9月20日(日) 10:00〜11:00
Thursday, 24 September・9月24日(木) 19:00〜20:00
Monday, 28 September・9月28日(月) 20:00〜21:00
Wednesday, 30 September・9月30日(水) 19:00〜20:00
Monday, 5 October・10月5日(月) 20:00〜21:00
Thursday, 8 October・10月8日(木) 19:00〜20:00
Saturday, 10 October・10月10日(土) 10:00〜11:00
Thursday, 15 October・10月15日(木) 19:00〜20:00
Tuesday, 20 October・10月20日(火) 9:00〜10:00
Saturday, 24 October・10月24日(土) 10:00〜11:00
Tuesday, 27 October・10月27日(火) 19:00〜20:00
Friday, 30 October・10月30日(金) 11:00〜12:00
Wednesday, 4 November・11月4日(水) 19:00〜20:00
Sunday, 8 November・11月8日(日) 10:00〜11:00
Tuesday, 10 November・11月10日(火) 12:00〜13:00
Saturday, 14 November・11月14日(土) 10:00〜11:00
Thursday, 19 November・11月19日(木) 19:00〜20:00
Tuesday, 24 November・11月24日(火) 19:00〜20:00
Friday, 27 November・11月27日(金) 10:00〜11:00
Monday, 30 November・11月30日(月) 18:00〜19:00
Wednesday, 2 December・12月2日(水) 19:00〜20:00
Saturday, 5 December・12月5日(土) 10:00〜11:00
Tuesday, 8 December・12月8日(火) 12:00〜13:00
Thursday, 10 December・12月10日(木) 19:00〜20:00
Monday, 14 December・12月14日(月) 20:00〜21:00
Friday, 18 December・12月18日(金) 10:00〜11:00