Mayor of Onna Village Meets with OFSA Representatives

Thursday morning, Onna Village Mayor, Yoshimi Nagahama, warmly welcomed OFSA Chair, Steve Aird and Executive Secretary, Risa Sato, for a meeting at the village office. Mayor Nagahama was informed about how OFSA is striving to create a work environment at OIST as outstanding as its geographic location and its physical facilties. He agreed with Dr. Aird that it doesn’t cost much to treat people well, but that the long-term cost of mistreating them is very high, and he was surprised that OIST had not had a labor union until recently. Mayor Nagahama said, “We all have families. When they are happy, we become more motivated to work.” He expressed appreciation to OIST students and employees who have cleaned beaches in Onna Village and have contributed to the community in other ways.

2月14日、OIST教職員労働組合代表のスティーブ・エアドと佐藤リサが恩納村役場で長浜善己村長と面談し、組合が一丸となってOISTの建物に負けない素晴らしい職場環境の実現に取り組んでいくことを伝えました。長浜村長は、「従業員を大事にするためのコストはさほど大きくないが、長期にわたり従業員を不当に扱った場合の代償は大きい」とのエアド委員長の言葉に頷き、これまでOISTに労組がなかったと聞いて驚いたとコメントしました。村長は、「みんな家族がいる。その家族が幸せなら、仕事も楽しくなる」と強調しました。最後に、海岸のごみ拾いなど、さまざまな形で地域に貢献してくれているOIST職員に対し、村長から感謝の言葉をいただきました。

OFSA Executive Secretary, Risa Sato, Onna Village Mayor, Yoshimi Nagahama, and OFSA Chair, Steve Aird