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Unions in 2006 Spring Struggle to demand a pay increase for all workers

Trade unions in this year's labor talks will demand an across-the-board wage increase for all workers, regular and part-time alike.

The Joint Struggle Committee for the People's Spring Struggle, consisting of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and unions without national affiliation, on January 17 held a meeting in Tokyo to confirm the goals of the 2006 Spring Struggle.

The meeting adopted a declaration expressing determination to do all they can in the coming labor talks under the slogan, "Let's create a new Japan, a society in which workers can feel heartened!"

At the annual labor talks, they will demand a 10,000-yen increase in monthly salaries or a 100-yen increase in hourly wages, and that the minimum wage be set at 150,000 yen a month, 7,400 yen a day, or 1,000 an hour.

In addition to an across-the-board wage increase, they demand that employers make efforts to eradicate deaths from overwork (karoshi), create jobs for youth, fulfill corporate social responsibility, and ensure adequate work conditions. They are also fighting to stop tax increases, cutbacks on public services, and the adverse revision of the Constitution. To make a success of the 2006 Spring Struggle, unions place importance on local struggles to achieve various local demands and on all union workers participating in the 2006 Spring Struggle.

Reminding unions and workers of their social role in the Spring Struggle, Zenroren President Kumagai Kanemichi said, "Let's develop the struggle to advance our efforts to meet public demands together with a wider range of people!"
- Akahata, January 18, 2006