“Gaba Corporation”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

The company provides language lessons on a "one-to-one" (one student and one teacher) basis and using textbook lessons and online (computerized) instructor aids, language and vocabulary drills, and guided conversation topics.^[6]

As of May 2017 the company has 45 learning studios.^[7] In March 2016 it had 564 staff and 1,106 sub-contracted instructors across Japan.^[8] In November 2013 it was reported that Gaba had 21,300 students.^[9]

Meaning of the company name

The company name "GABA" is an acronym for "girls, be ambitious; boys, be audacious!".^[10] According to a speech given by co-founder Hideki Yoshino, he chose this name because he had a keen interest in physical fitness, and named it after Gamma-Aminobutyric acid, an amino acid used by bodybuilders. Many other large Japanese English conversation schools at the time also had four letter names, such as Nova, GEOS, and Aeon, and giving the school a four letter name would help it fit in.{{Original research inline|date=October 2011}} It seems likely the acronym was created second, and seems to originate from William Smith Clark, a nineteenth-century American academic who taught at Sapporo Agricultural College, now Hokkaido University. When leaving Japan, he said to his students "Boys, be ambitious!" This is now the motto of Hokkaido University.

Gaba describes itself as a "man-to-man eikaiwa". In Japanese, "man-tsū-man" (マンツーマン), a katakana phrase adapted from English, means "one-to-one", referring to the company's one student/one instructor lesson style.^[11]

History

Founding and early history

Gaba was founded in 1995 by Karen and Hideki Yoshino.^[2] It was originally a matching service for students and teachers, and lessons were conducted in various locations, such as coffee shops or at teachers' homes. From 2000, the company established schools, referred to as "Learning Studios" where students, referred to as clients, and teachers, referred to as instructors, met, and lessons were conducted.^[12]

In July 2004, Gaba was purchased by NIF Capital Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of NIF Ventures Co Ltd, in turn a subsidiary of Daiwa Securities. According to the Nikkei Shimbun, the price was several billion yen.^[13] It went public in December 2006, and had a valuation of 11.39 billion yen.^[14] The majority stockholder was Daiwa Securities, which owned 60.38% of Gaba's stock.^[15]

Due to declining business performance the firm underwent a major transformation at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009. In October 2008, Kenji Kamiyama joined the company as COO and Senior Managing Executive Officer. In March 2009 he replaced Chutatsu Aono as President and CEO, and the position of COO was abolished. Kamiyama's focus was to reduce "wasteful expenditure" and to lead a rejuvenation of the profit and loss and balance sheets. During Aono's presidency the firm expanded its number of Learning Studios, but also maintained its headquarters in the expensive GT Tower in Nakameguro, launched the ill-fated Global Stars initiative, and made decisions such as holding its company sports day in May 2007 at Tokyo Dome.

On August 5, 2011, it was announced that Nichii Gakkan would purchase Gaba and make it a wholly owned subsidiary.^[17] This takeover was effective as of September 29, 2011.^[18]

Following Gaba's sale to Nichii Gakkan, effective December 5, 2011 Kenji Kamiyama stepped down as President, Chief Executive Officer and Representative Director of Gaba,^[19] and was replaced by Bruce Anderson,^[20] and Takayuki Masuda became the Vice-President. On March 29, 2012 Masuda succeeded Anderson as president.^[3]

Stock Price as a publicly listed company

Gaba went public on December 5, 2006, and was listed as {{tyo|2133}} on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Its initial stock price opened at 255,000 yen per share, but the prices gradually fell from this level to the point where on March 4, 2009, the stock price was closing at 13,900 yen. After that the stock price gradually rose, reaching 162,700 on March 7, 2011. After the Tohoku earthquake it fell, at its lowest point closing at 82,100 on March 15. Subsequently, it rebounded, and after the August 5, 2011 announcement^[22] that Nichii Gakkan had launched a take over bid for Gaba paying 200,000 yen per share, the stock price rose to 199,000 on August 15, 2011.^[23] The tender offer opened August 8 and expired September 21.^[24] As of September 29, 2011 Nichii Gakkan owned 98.88% of Gaba's shares and Daiwa Securities held no voting rights in Gaba.^[25]

In 2011 Gaba became a wholly owned subsidiary of Nichii Gakkan. which purchased the company a from Daiwa Securities and other shareholders for 10,100,000,000 yen; on November 30, 2011, Gaba corporation's stock was removed from the Tokyo Stock Exchange .^[26] Nichii Gakkan expected Gaba to begin contributing to business results from the second half of fiscal year 2012, with net sales of 4,300,000,000 and an operating income of 400,000,000.^[27]

Learning Studio history

Gaba has added at least one Learning Studio every year from 2000 onwards. Generally they are named after the area they are located in, although some are named after the station they are closest to. The first were opened in March 2000 with the Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Jiyugaoka and Yokohama schools.

On July 13, 2005, Gaba opened a 'next generation' learning studio designed specifically for women in Ginza.^[28] It provided VIP "executive booths" that afforded complete privacy for the lesson.^[29]^[30] English conversation schools often gear marketing campaigns towards women, with strategies the focus on couplings between Japan and the other, represented and embodied by professional/romantic/sexual pairings between western instructors and female Japanese students.^[31] The Ginza LS was later moved to Yurakucho, and no longer caters to an exclusively female clientele.^[32]

By May 1, 2017 the firm has forty-five Learning Studios in Japan. The vast majority of them are located in the Kanto region (34), with the remaining LSs being in Chubu (2), Kansai (6) and Kyushu (1).^[33]

Headquarters

Until November 2009, the firm had two buildings, the "Support Centre" in the GT Tower in Nakameguro, effectively the company headquarters and a "Quality Centre", where training was conducted in Ebisu. From November 16, 2009 the Support Centre moved to "Round Cross Moto-Yoyogi" building (now known as "Glass City") in Moto-yoyogi in Shibuya-ku,^[34]^[35] and on November 24 the "Quality Centre" did so too. After the closure of the Ikebukuro Annex, Gaba's Japanese classes, "Jaba", relocated there also.

On August 11, 2014 Gaba's headquarters moved to the "Shinjuku Front Tower" in Kita-Shinjuku.^[36]

Global Stars and Gaba Kids

In early 2008 Global Stars, a section of the business for teaching one-on-one lessons to children was launched. There were designated "Learning Fields" established in Hiroo and Seijo, as well as "Learning Field-enabled Learning Studios" in Ebisu and Tachikawa. There was not enough demand; the Learning Fields in Hiroo and Seijo were closed in 2009, and Gaba Global Stars was merged into a number of regular leaning studios. From 1 September 2009, Gaba Global Stars was officially re-branded Gaba Kids. It is offered in a number of Learning Studios in the Kanto area .and Gaba

In November 2015 Gaba launched "and Gaba.", a free conversation space in Shibuya, Tokyo.^[37]^[38]

Textbooks

In February 2002, Gaba launched the Snapshots series of seven textbooks. They were designed to teach grammar points by combining a story about a mixed group of young Japanese and English-speaking characters interacting all over the world. The firm later created online drills for use with the textbooks. In June 2003, a second line of textbooks, Planet, was created. Theu were designed to teach travel English, with more focus on situations than specific grammar. In July 2004, the Career textbooks were launched. The three books were focused more on situations, in this case business situations, than specific grammar.

The firm also used a variety of non-Gaba textbooks for both daily conversation and business English lessons.

From April 2008, the Gaba 13-level system, was simplified to a 10-level system, with new textbooks . In April 2008 the Snapshots New books began to be released. They were much less grammar-focused than the previous Snapshots books. Each level has twenty lessons, with the tenth and twentieth lessons being review lessons. The other eighteen lessons have five sections. First, a picture on the front page that instructors can ask the client to describe. Second, a dialogue section, then three practice sections where the target language for the lesson is tried out. Finally, there is an application section, essentially a roleplay.

From October 2008, the Business Advantage textbooks were rolled out. They have the same construction as Snapshots New. The only exception is that from level seven and up, the picture at the start of each lesson is replaced by a newspaper article that the client and instructor discuss at the beginning of the lesson. The new Snapshots New and Business Advantage replaced the older Snapshots series, which are no longer being sold. However, the Planet and Career Gaba texts are still being sold. All non-Gaba textbooks have been phased out.^[39]

In February 2011, Gaba introduced the Travel serie, replacing the Planet textbooks .^[40] In September 2013 the firm introduced the "Starter" textbooks, designed for students at a very low level of English.^[41] From June 2014 the firm introduced the "Snapshot Teens" textbooks, designed for teenage students at a low level of English.^[42]

Jaba Japanese lessons

In 2008, Gaba started the Jaba program to teach Japanese lessons. At first they were held in the Tokyo LS, then in the Ikebukuro Annex, and from November 2009, they relocated to the 8th floor of the new headquarters in Moto-Yoyogi. Lessons are now also taught at various Gaba Learning Studios. The program formerly offered group lessons, but now only offers private lessons.^[43]

Lesson purchase system

Gaba clients purchase blocks of lessons when they join the company and when they renew their contract. The company then places these funds into an escrow account,^[44] and allocates "lesson points" to the clients. Clients spend these lesson points, and as this occurs the funds are transferred from the escrow account to Gaba's regular accounts.

The cost to students for Gaba lessons is between 5000-7000 yen per lesson, depending on the course they purchase.^[45] According to an interview with Reuters, Gaba students pay about 50,000 yen per month, higher than the 36,500 average allowance that company employees receive from their employers for such training.^[46]

Employment system

Staff employment system

Gaba employs Japanese staff referred to as "counselors" in the Learning Studios. Some of these are employed on a part-time basis, receiving unemployment insurance and transportation pay but no other benefits. Others are employed on a full-time basis and receive full employment benefits. Most other Gaba staff are also employed on a full-time basis with the standard benefits of employment.

Instructor employment system

Gaba instructors are not currently employees, but rather are 'itaku', effectively independent contractors. They have six month contracts, and are paid per lesson. Instructors have flexibility in choosing their schedule. Gaba instructors receive an incentive for teaching a certain amount of lessons each month.

As Gaba instructors work under a contract, many benefits provided to salaried workers in Japan are not available. For example, they do not receive any travel allowance, sick leave, or holiday pay, and Gaba does not pay for part of their pension, health insurance, or unemployment insurance. They therefore do not pay payroll taxes, which normally take a significant chunk out of Japanese salaried workers' paychecks.

Similarly to many other English conversation schools in Japan, Gaba recruits extensively outside Japan. It has held recruiting events in Canada,^[47] Australia,^[48] England,^[49] Ireland i^[50] the US ,^[51]^[52] Taiwan,^[53] South Korea .^[54] Hong Kong in August.^[55] and Singapore .^[56]

Industrial action

On September 6, 2007 a union of Gaba's instructors was formed ^[57] as part of the Osaka-based General Union, and has members in different areas of the firm. The General Union belongs to the National Union of General Workers (NUGW), which is a member of the National Trade Union Council (Zenrokyo).^[58]

Union representatives had many discussions with the company around 2007. In April 2008, Gaba raised its lesson rate; the General Union has long claimed that these changes were due to union pressure,^[59] but Gaba has maintained that the changes were being discussed in 2006, before the union came to Gaba, and were not related to union pressure. The union subsequently took an unfair labor practice case through the Osaka Labor Relations Commission claiming that Gaba had not negotiated in good faith,^[60] and also to have instructors recognized as employees, not independent gyomu-itaku (sub-contractors) .^[61]

The case ran from July 2008 to August 2009. The ruling found that Gaba had negotiated in good faith with the union, but also implied that Gaba's instructor contracting system had elements of labor and that Gaba instructors had the right to organize 'as employees'. This language was interpreted by the Union as a decision on the status of instructors, and through their web page declared that Gaba instructors are not itaku but employees under the trade union law.^[62] This did not immediately change the employment situation for Gaba instructors but the union said it would use this to win standard employment benefits (paid leave, unemployment insurance, health insurance, etc.) which Gaba does not currently give to instructors under their itaku contracts.^[63]

Gaba was dissatisfied with this interpretation, and appealed to the Central Labor Commission in Tokyo.^[64] On October 28, 2010, a , the Central Labor Commission ruled ^[65] that the question should be decided by a lower court (the Osaka Labor Committee). After multiple appeals, and negotiations with the union, the company eventually recognized the rights of its instructors under trade union law.^[66]^[67]

In August 2010, union members lodged applications with the Shibuya Hello Work office to be enrolled in unemployment insurance.^[68] The applications were eventually withdrawn by the GU as part of an agreement signed with Gaba.^[69] As of January 2016, Gaba instructors are not enrolled in unemployment insurance.

On October 4, 2010, the General Union made an official complaint to the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission,^[70] part of the Financial Services Agency, over compliance issues based on Gaba stating in its report for the 2009 financial year that there was no union at the company, and that labor relations were "smooth and harmonious", and also for failing to mention the Osaka Labor Commission case and the subsequent appeal .^[64]^[71] The company sued the General Union for libel, over an article on the union webpage dealing with Gaba's compliance. .^[72] The company's suit was dismissed in November 2011.^[73] After negotiations with the union Gaba agreed not to appeal their loss.^[66]^[67]

After over 8 years as a Gaba instructor,^[74] Gaba non-renewed the contract of Francis Strange, the chair of the Gaba branch of the General Union. The union viewed this as union busting, and in October the union demonstrated and leafleted Learning Studios in Osaka and Tokyo, and negotiated with Gaba and new owner Nichii Gakkan in an effort to reverse the non-renewal.^[75] After negotiations Gaba agreed to rehire Strange.^[66]

In April 2012^[76] Gaba and the General Union signed an agreement in which both sides withdrew their pending cases in the courts and government bureaucracy. Gaba agreed to negotiate in good faith on the issue of employment status and benefits for instructors.^[66] After signing the agreement to negotiate, the union and the company commenced negotiations on conditions on May 28, 2012,^[77] and the negotiations are ongoing as of 2016.

Morning peak lesson pay increase

The General Union and company subsequently signed a collective agreement that from May 2013 all instructors working the first three weekday morning peak time lessons (the F-shift) would receive an additional 200 yen for every lesson taught. The agreement was officially signed and dated on June 17, 2013. and the first payday including the incentive was June 25, 2013. For instructors on the lowest pay rate (around 50% of the workforce) this meant a 13.3% pay increase for those lessons.^[78]^[79]

On October 4, 2013 the General Union and Gaba Corporation signed a grievance procedure agreement. This legally requires the company to respond to workplace grievances related to individual instructors in a fair and prompt manner.^[80]

Dealing with Sexual Harassment from Clients

From 2013 the General Union raised a number of incidents where Gaba clients had sexually harassed instructors.^[81] In response to this, the company changed their policy to make it easier for instructors to block students who behaved inappropriately and introduced a standardised form for ISLs to report harassment from clients to Gaba HQ.^[82]

In 2014 the Gaba Branch of the union appointed sexual harassment officers for instructors to speak to about incidents at work.^[83]

In 2015 Gaba staff deleted information on the system about clients who had harassed female instructors. An instructor brought up the issue with the company several times as new instructors were left with no warning, and no knowledge that they were in their rights to have the student blocked. No action were taken. Information about this were finally entered in the system by the instructor so female instructors would be aware and could prepare themselves. The comments were repeatedly deleted and the instructor was given a written warning by the company and told not to do it again. The union protested this.^[84] Later in 2015 an instructor who warned a new instructor about a client who had harassed female instructors in the past was disciplined by the company, which the union also protested.^[85]

Sexual harassment allegations

Gaba teachers complained in 2014 that company management has not acted appropriately or with sufficient support when they have been sexually harassed by students at work.^[86]^[87]

See also

References

1. ^Gaba website 当社役員に関するお知らせ Retrieved June 11, 2014 {{ja}}
2. ^¹Metropolis issue 387 Leading the Way Retrieved June 11, 2014
3. ^¹²Gaba website Press release Retrieved April 2, 2012
4. ^Gaba Corporation website CEOメッセージ {{ja}} Retrieved June 11, 2014
5. ^¹Gaba Corporation website 代表取締役の異動に関するお知らせ March 5, 2015 {{ja}} Retrieved March 8, 2015
6. ^Business Week Business Week, Gaba Corporation Details Retrieved June 11, 2014
7. ^Gaba Corporation website ラーニングスタジオ Retrieved May 1, 2017 {{ja}}
8. ^Gaba Corporation website Company information Retrieved May 1, 2017 {{ja icon}}
9. ^Japan Times Six years following bankruptcy, Nova boosts the brand November 3, 2013 Retrieved October 6, 2014
10. ^Webcitation.org [https://www.webcitation.org/5WfUBOqoe?url=http://www.gaba.co.jp/companyinfo/gaiyo.html Webcite Gaba Query Result] Retrieved June 11, 2014
11. ^Gaba Corporation website Homepage {{ja}} Retrieved June 11, 2014
12. ^Gaba homepage History Retrieved June 11, 2014
13. ^ELT news NIF buys Gaba July 22, 2004 Retrieved June 11, 2014
14. ^GABA to Launch IPO on December 1, 2006 November 1, 2006 Retrieved June 11, 2014
15. ^2010 Stock Exchange Report Stockholder information page 39 Retrieved June 11, 2014
16. ^Instructor Times, page 3, February 2011
17. ^Nikkei website Nichii Gakkan To Launch Tender Offer For Gaba Retrieved August 8, 2011 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807014731/http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110805D0508N04.htm |date=August 7, 2011 }}
18. ^Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/2133.T/key-developments/article/2403476 Nichii Gakkan Company Completes Takeover Bid for Shares of Gaba Corporation] Retrieved October 13, 2011
19. ^Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyOfficers?symbol=2133.T Kenji Kamiyama information] Retrieved November 2nd 2011
20. ^Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/officerProfile?symbol=2133.T&officerId=887852 Bruce Anderson information] Retrieved November 2nd 2011
21. ^Japan Times Six years following bankruptcy, Nova boosts the brand November 3, 2013 Retrieved June 11, 2014
22. ^Daiwa website August 5 Press release Retrieved June 11, 2014
23. ^Bloomberg [https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=2133:JP Gaba information] Retrieved August 5, 2011 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401102715/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=2133:JP |date=April 1, 2008 }}
24. ^Nikkei website Nichii Gakkan To Launch Tender Offer For Gaba Retrieved August 16, 2011 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928083518/http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110805D0508N04.htm |date=September 28, 2011 }}
25. ^Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/2133.T/key-developments/article/2403476 Nichii Gakkan Company Completes Takeover Bid for Shares of Gaba Corporation] Retrieved October 13, 2011 {{dead link|date=June 2014}}
26. ^Gaba Corporation website Gaba Corporation Acquired by Nichii Gakkan November 2, 2011 Retrieved June 11, 2014
27. ^Nichii Gakkan website 2012 Financial Results Briefing Document November 8, 2011 page 23 Retrieved June 11, 2014
28. ^Gaba Corporation website 女性向けのハイクオリティな英会話習得サービスを追求した次世代型ラーニングスタジオを東京・銀座4丁目にオープンのお知らせ June 16, 2005 {{ja}} Retrieved June 11, 2014
29. ^Yomiuri Online July 13, 2005 女性向けの次世代型英会話スタジオ誕生 Retrieved August 31, 2010 {{dead link|date=June 2014}}
30. ^Asahi Shimbun website GABAマンツーマン英会話女性向けのハイクオリティな英会話習得サービスを追求した次世代型ラーニングスタジオを東京・銀座４丁目にオープンのお知らせ June 16, 2005 Retrieved June 11, 2014
31. ^Kerion Baily, 2002. "Living in the Eikaiwa Wonderland: English Language Learning, Socioeconomic Transformation and Gender Alterities in Modern Japan." Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Kentucky, Lexington.
32. ^Gaba Corporation website JR有楽町駅前に2012年5月7日「銀座有楽町ラーニングスタジオ」移転オープン February 28, 2012 {{ja}} Retrieved June 11, 2014
33. ^Gaba Corporation website 福岡天神ラーニングスタジオ Retrieved September 8, 2016
34. ^Gaba Corporation website 本社移転に関するお知らせ August 20, 2009 {{ja icon}} Retrieved June 11, 2014
35. ^Gaba website 本社移転に関するお知らせ October 16, 2009 {{ja icon}}
36. ^Gaba Corporation website 本社移転に関するお知らせ 2014年8月11日（月）{{ja}} Retrieved June 11, 2014
37. ^Gaba Corporation website マンツーマン英会話スクールを運営する株式会社GABA（ガバ）（本社：東京都新宿区、代表取締役：齊藤正俊）は、11月19日（木）、気軽に英語体験ができる場「and Gaba.（アンドガバ）」を渋谷モディ5階にオープンいたします。 Retrieved March 16, 2016
38. ^Gaba Corporation website [https://and.gaba.co.jp and Gaba] Retrieved March 16, 2016
39. ^Gaba website History Retrieved June 11, 2014
40. ^Instructor Times, February 2010, page 2
41. ^Gaba Corporation website 英会話初心者向けの新カリキュラム『Gaba Starter』を販売開始～初心者応援の「Beginner's Gaba」キャンペーンをスタート～ September 2, 2013 Retrieved June 11, 2014 {{ja}}
42. ^Gaba Corporation website [Gaba、中高生専用の新教材「Snapshots teens」を販売開始～年代に合わせた教材の提供で、さらにきめ細かくレッスンをカスタマイズ～ May 29, 2014] Retrieved June 11, 2014 {{ja}}
43. ^Jaba website Front page Retrieved June 11, 2014
44. ^Gaba website, History Retrieved June 11, 2014
45. ^Gaba website Price page Retrieved June 11, 2014
46. ^Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/22/japan-english-idUKL3E7KL0RU20110922?type=companyNews Fear for jobs ignites "English crisis" in Japan September 22, 2014] Retrieved June 11, 2014
47. ^TESL jobs website Teach English in Japan Retrieved on August 31, 2010. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129142835/http://tesljobs.com/viewjob.php?id_job=694 |date=November 29, 2010 }}
48. ^General Union website Pay Cuts Increase at GABA February 1, 2010 Retrieved June 11, 2014.
49. ^Instructor Times, page 4, May 2011
50. ^Gaba Corporation website Recruitment Event in Ireland [Oct 2013] August 15, 2013 Retrieved June 11, 2014
51. ^Gaba website Recruitment events on the west coast of Canada and the US Retrieved June 11, 2014
52. ^Gaba Corporation website San Francisco and San Jose Recruiting Events in November Retrieved June 11, 2014
53. ^Gaba Corporation website Taiwan Recruitment Event Finalized Retrieved June 11, 2014
54. ^Gaba Corporation website Recruitment Event In Korea Retrieved on January 4, 2012 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027034253/http://teaching-in-japan.gaba.co.jp/info/index.php?itemid=26 |date=October 27, 2011 }}
55. ^Gaba Corporation website Hong Kong Event, August 2013 June 21, 2013 Retrieved June 11, 2014
56. ^Gaba Corporation website Recruitment Events in the Singapore 2012 Recruiting Events Retrieved on June 1, 2012 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714120042/http://teaching-in-japan.gaba.co.jp/news/index.php?itemid=26 |date=July 14, 2014 }}
57. ^National Union Voice GABA Workers Demand Dignity at Work October 2007 Retrieved June 11, 2014.
58. ^General Union website General Union Affiliation Retrieved June 11, 2014
59. ^General Union website, GABA Teachers Win a Pay Increase! June 24, 2008 Retrieved June 11, 2014
60. ^Japanese Law Translation website Trade Union Act Retrieved June 11, 2014
61. ^Gaba website The Contract Retrieved June 11, 2014
62. ^General Union website Gaba teachers "Employees" not "subcontractors" Retrieved June 11, 2014
63. ^General Union website Round One To The Union January 27, 2010 Retrieved June 11, 2014
64. ^¹McCrostie, James, "Gaba teachers challenge 'contractor' status", Japan Times, 19 October 2010, p. 12-13. Retrieved June 11, 2014
65. ^General Union website Gaba appeal rejected, sues government Retrieved June 11, 2014
66. ^¹²³General Union website GABA Does About Face: Rehires Branch Chair, Drops Lawsuits February 28, 2012 Retrieved June 11, 2014
67. ^¹General Union website More reason to join than ever April 23, 2012 Retrieved June 11, 2014
68. ^General Union website Gaba members seek Unemployment Insurance August 25, 2010 Retrieved June 11, 2014
69. ^General Union website More reason to join than ever 23 April 2012 Retrieved June 11, 2014
70. ^ELT News General Union files complaint against Gaba October 28, 2010 Retrieved June 11, 2014
71. ^Gaba 2010 Stock Exchange report Retrieved June 11, 2014
72. ^General Union website General Union "counter-sues" Gaba for 58 million yen Updated on June 11, 2014
73. ^Scott, Simon, "Gaba 'contractor' status under fire from staff, courts", Japan Times, 20 December 2011, p. 13. Retrieved June 11, 2014
74. ^General Union webpage Gaba branch organizing committee Retrieved June 11, 2014
75. ^General Union website Gaba Non-Renews Branch Chair Retrieved June 11, 2014
76. ^General Union website GU - More Reason To Join Than Ever April 23, 2012 Retrieved June 11, 2014
77. ^General Union website GU - More Reason To Join Than Ever Retrieved June 6, 2012
78. ^General Union website So, what has the union ever done for me? July 3, 2013 Retrieved June 11, 2014
79. ^General Union website Gaba pay increase - collective agreement signed August 3, 2013 Retrieved June 11, 2014
80. ^General Union website General Union and Gaba Corporation sign grievance procedure agreement October 23, 2013 Retrieved June 11, 2014
81. ^McCrostie, James, "Harassers exploit Gaba’s ‘man-to-man’ lesson format", Japan Times, 17 June 2014, p. 12
82. ^General Union website Harassing Gaba clients can be blocked - Here is how: April 21, 2014 Retrieved June 18, 2014
83. ^General Union website General Union Gaba Branch appoints Sexual Harassment Officers April 10, 2014 Retrieved June 18, 2014
84. ^General Union website May 26, 2015 Hiding Sexual Harassment by clients at Gaba Retrieved June 12, 2015
85. ^General Union website Gaba Hides Client Sexual Harassment, Punishes Instructors September 30, 2015 Retrieved September 30, 2014
86. ^McCrostie, James, "Harassers exploit Gaba’s ‘man-to-man’ lesson format", Japan Times, 17 June 2014, p. 12 Retrieved July 4, 2014
87. ^Currie-Robson, Craig, "Eikaiwa, deal with sexual harassment of teachers before it’s too late", "Japan Times", September 28, 2014