Zenroren discusses 2003 Spring Struggle

Representatives of unions affiliated to the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), met in Atami City in Shizuoka Prefecture on December 5 and 6 in preparation for the 2003 Spring Struggle.

Zenroren Secretary General Ban'nai Mitsuo proposed a strategy for the 2003 Spring Struggle that places importance on cooperation with various strata of people in various fields. He called for a community-based spring struggle linking to efforts to establish democratic municipalities in order to defend local jobs and people's living conditions.

Participants welcomed this proposal and put emphasis on joint actions to protect people's lives, local economies, and jobs from adverse revisions of the pension, tax, and medical insurance systems. Such connections with a wider range of people will generate the power to severely shake the Liberal Democratic Party's support base, the representatives agreed.

Ban'nai's proposal included the following demands: more than 10,000 yen increase in the basic salary; establishment of a national minimum wage system; improvement of measures to prevent bankruptcies and unemployment; opposition to the adverse revision of labor laws and social services; and opposition to tax increases. (end)