Charles, a ten-year veteran ALT, recently made headlines by taking his dispatch company to court with the union backing him, demanding a 340 yen monthly pay increase. Despite the best efforts of his team, the case didn’t go in his favour. ShiroGumi Shimbun caught up with him to chat about the ordeal, speaking in true global English fashion: Aussie questions meet British answers.
Interview with Charles
ShiroGumi Shimbun: Righto, mate. First off, cheers for sittin’ down with us. Bit of a rough trot, eh? How ya holdin’ up after the judge’s call?
Charles: Well, thank you for having me. It’s been quite a slog, I’ll admit. The outcome was disappointing, to say the least. One expects a modicum of fairness, but alas, not this time.
ShiroGumi Shimbun: Fair dinkum, that’s tough. So what made ya reckon takin’ ‘em to court was the go? 340 yen’s not exactly shout-the-bar money.
Charles: Quite right, it isn’t a princely sum, but it’s the principle of the matter, you see. After a decade of service, one ought to expect some recognition for one’s efforts. It’s not solely about the money; it’s about standing up for what’s just.
ShiroGumi Shimbun: And what did the mob in wigs have to say about all this, eh? Why’d they chuck your case in the bin?
Charles: Well, the court essentially sided with the company, citing contractual technicalities. Apparently, because there was no explicit clause guaranteeing a pay rise, the company wasn’t legally obliged to grant one. It’s all rather absurd, if you ask me.
ShiroGumi Shimbun: Bugger that for a joke. Any regrets about takin’ a swing, though? Sounds like a bloody uphill battle from the get-go.
Charles: Regrets? Not a jot. If anything, I’d do it again. Sometimes, one must make a stand, even if the odds aren’t in one’s favour. If my efforts inspire others to take action, then it wasn’t all in vain.
ShiroGumi Shimbun: Too right. What would ya say to other ALTs feelin’ like they’re gettin’ dudded?
Charles: To my fellow ALTs, I’d say this: don’t suffer in silence. Speak up, join the union, and fight for your rights. It may be an uphill climb, but together, we have a stronger voice.
ShiroGumi Shimbun: Righto, Charles, last question for ya: why 340 yen, mate? Why not 500, or go the whole hog and ask for more?
Charles: Ah, well, there’s a rather charming anecdote behind that, actually. You see, at the base of my apartment building, there’s this delightful little yatai. Every month’s first school day morning, without fail, I pop down to procure their “omakase san bon yakitori” set for precisely 340 yen. Could you think a little bit more about that, every single month, on the first day of school, I pop into this quaint little stall, and I must say, I feel terribly Japanese. It’s quite extraordinary, really—after savouring this delightful treat, Japanese words seem to simply spill out of my mouth. Marvelous, isn’t it? It’s become something of a tradition for me—a small but earnest gesture towards cultural integration.
Back home in the UK, my day would typically commence with a bowl of Weetabix, reliable as the sunrise. However, upon my arrival in Japan, I resolved to adopt local customs, no matter how modest they might seem. Replacing my breakfast with yakitori felt like a meaningful and, dare I say, symbolic step in fostering a deeper connection with this nation and its people.
So, when the time came to decide on the amount I’d contest for, it struck me: why not an amount imbued with personal significance? 340 yen isn’t just a figure—it’s an homage to the culture I’ve come to admire. A touch unconventional, perhaps, but sometimes it’s the smaller gestures that carry the most weight.
ShiroGumi Shimbun: Fair dinkum, mate. That’s gotta be the most Charles answer we’ve ever heard. Cheers for sittin’ down with us!
Charles’ stiff upper lip and determination remind us all that the fight for fair treatment isn’t over yet. Though his case may not have been a victory, his perseverance might just pave the way for future wins in the battle for ALT rights.