An OIST Employee Requests Intervention by the Labor Bureau

You may not see this on TIDA, but the following story appeared in both the Okinawa Times and the Ryukyu Shimpo. In a distinct break with previous practice, the OIST Media Section did not post these articles on TIDA. OFSA regards this is an ominous development, since curtailing access to information is one of the hallmarks of autocratic governance. The decision to censor TIDA does little to inspire confidence in the administration’s oft-repeated claims of openness and transparency. Actions speak louder than words.

Okinawa Times - Friday, 15 February, 2019

A nurse employed in the OIST Health Center submitted an application requesting intervention by the Labor Bureau. Her contract will be terminated at the end of March, and she claims that it is inappropriate. According to the application, the applicant has been working at the Health Center on a fixed-term contract since November, 2016. She is one of the three nurses and her primary responsibility has been to supervise operations of the Clinic. Her contract was renewed once previously. The clinic has been closed since August 2017 due to the lack of a physician, and it is slated to re-open in April. Nonetheless, the nurse was told that her contract would be terminated at the end of March. The justification given is that the operational hours of the clinic will be shorter than before it closed. The nurse is a member of the OIST Faculty and Staff Association, a labor union belonging to Rengo Okinawa. The nurse explained, “Since the number of staff and students will increase, the clinic should be hiring more staff instead of terminating them.”

Original Article in the Okinawa Times, 15 February 2019

Ryukyu Shimpo - Monday, 18 February, 2019

A nurse employed in the OIST Health Center submitted an application requesting intervention by the Labor Bureau. Her contract will be terminated at the end of March, which she claims is inappropriate. The application was submitted on February 13th and was accepted by the Labor Bureau on the 15th. According to OFSA, the applicant has been working at the Health Center on a fixed-term contract since November, 2016. The clinic has been closed since August 2017 due to the lack of a physician, and is slated to re-open in April. On January 18th of this year, OIST told the nurse that her contract would be terminated at the end of March. The justification given is that the operational hours of the clinic will be shorter than they were before it was closed. Through OFSA, the nurse commented, "I have been in charge of maintaining the clinic for more than 2 years. Since I did my job without any problems, terminating my contract just before re-opening of the clinic is contradictory.” She also said, "I want an employee-supportive (employee-friendly) working environment to be established for OIST and Okinawa.” OIST said that it will not comment on individual HR matters.