Workers are fighting back against restructuring -- Akahata editorial, January 9, 2002 (excerpts)

Has there ever been such a new year when the people are so worried about an insecure employment situation? It's only a matter of time before the unemployment rate reaches six percent.

The major reason for an expected increase in unemployment is the Koizumi Cabinet's "structural reform" which supports corporate restructuring and encourages an early disposal of bad loans.

Under the government initiative, a discussion has started between the government, labor, and management on "work-sharing." As part of "work sharing," business circles intend to cut wages under the pretext of "job security." This is different from the work sharing being carried out in France and Germany where the workday is shortened without wage cuts to increase jobs.

Dismissals and restructuring are restricted and more jobs are provided by shortening the workday without wage cuts.

Workers throughout Japan are beginning to fight back against the outrageous corporate restructuring.

In the on-going corporate restructuring, reckless measures are used against labor laws, including case laws for protecting workers' rights. Workers are forced to retire or change to affiliate companies. Many work overtime without pay, take no annual leave, and work under severe working conditions.

At Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Murata Machinery, Ltd. and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), workers' struggles have developed in conjunction with Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers' questioning in the Diet and representations to local labor standards inspection offices. These activities have got some results, such as ending forcible retirements and transfers.

At Toyota Motor Corporation and its affiliate companies, Hitachi, Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., and Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd., workers and the JCP have pushed the labor standards inspection offices into executing the Health, Welfare and Labor Ministry's circular, and as a result, company managements have had to do something to end overtime work without pay.

At Sega Corporation and NCR Japan, Ltd., in which workers who refused company orders under restructuring programs had been put in solitary confinement with no jobs to do, workers' struggles and public opinion have pushed the companies into ending such human rights violation. (end)