400,000 workers take action demanding higher wages

As the 2003 Spring Struggle reaches its climax, about 400,000 union workers took a nationwide action on March 13 to press management to increase their wages.

Construction, transport, metal, information machinery, publishing, and telecommunications industry workers participated in the day's action together with the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and the Joint Struggle Council for Victory of People's Spring Struggle.

So far 129 industrial unions have won an average monthly wage increase of 5,324 yen, up 1.75 percent. But this is 825 yen lower than the previous year's increase.

At Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), about 800 workers in 284 workplaces went on strike in protest against the company refusing an increase. In front of the NTT head office, 250 telecom workers and their supporters conducted a sit-in.

At Japan Railways (JR), union workers held a half-day strike demanding a wage increase and a revocation of 1,047 dismissals that took place when JR Companies were established following the division and privatization of the former Japanese National Railways.

Kumagai Kanemichi, Zenroren president, criticized large corporations for trying to hold down wage increases while making unprecedented profits, and called on all workers to take actions against such irresponsible companies. (end)