A New Position for Risa Sato

Dear Colleagues,

2018 was marked by many achievements for OIST in research, education, culture, and community relations. Those remarkable successes were well-summarized in the President’s 26 December Email. However, he neglected to mention the foundation of the OIST Faculty and Staff Association (OFSA), an omission that testifies of the genuine need for a labor union. Those of you who participated in the information session conducted by Rengo Okinawa Union on December 20, 2018, now have a better understanding of how Japanese Law protects the rights of employees to form or join a union, in order to ensure fairness, healthy working conditions, a safe work environment, and compliance with laws, rules, and regulations from top to bottom. The Labor Union Law prohibits any employer from enacting unfair labor practices, such as laying off or transferring workers, terminating contracts, or assigning more difficult tasks in a punitive manner.

Because I have heard from people who are concerned about my recent transfer from the Office of the President to the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School, I am writing to assure you that this was not done in response to my affiliation with OFSA. In fact, I am pleased with my new assignment. I encourage you to attend the next OFSA information meeting, to be held on 17 January at 6:15 pm at the Onna Village Center. At this meeting you will learn about the numerous benefits and protections from labor union membership, so I strongly encourage you to join the Association. Please do not hesitate to contact me at oist.fsa@protonmail.com if you have any questions about this matter.

Sincerely yours,

Risa Sato