A union of foreign teachers at a public university in Kumamoto announced Friday it will launch a one-day strike against the school Wednesday over its allegedly unfair treatment of foreign staff -- a strike they claim is the first among public school teachers in Japan.
"Japanese universities continue to refuse to let foreigners integrate into the university system," said Cynthia Worthington, a teacher at the Prefectural University of Kumamoto who heads the Kumamoto General Union.
Worthington, who has taught English at the university since 1992, formed the union last year with six other foreign staff members discontent with what they say is unfair treatment.