Okinawa Times, May 11, 2019
It has been learned that Dr. Steven Aird (66 years old), President of the OIST Faculty and Staff Association (OFSA), was informed by the administration that he would be terminated in mid-June. OFSA, organized last year, claims that firing him because of his having organized the labor union is retaliatory and illegal. OIST denies it.
Dr. Aird, an American with a Ph.D., has been the Technical Editor at OIST since 2012, to edit manuscripts that researchers submit to (scientific) journals. This April, he was informed by his supervisor that his one-year contract, which terminates in mid June,
will not be renewed.
Dr. Aird was told that his termination was because he is over 65 years old. He says that this is nonsense because his contract was renewed last year when he was 66 years old. He says, “This is the first contract renewal after I organized the labor union and voiced opposition to harassment.” He will consider taking legal action if his termination is not canceled.
OIST told us “We do not comment about individual HR cases” and “Basically we do not re-hire employees beyond retirement age. Firing someone because he/she is a member of labor union is detrimental treatment and is illegal. We are against such treatment.”
