IHI subcontractor apologizes to workers and secures their jobs

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

IHI subcontractor apologizes to workers and secures their jobs

At Tokyo Engineering Co. (TEC), a subcontractor of Japan’s major military and machinery maker IHI Corporation, workers won an apology and secured their jobs after a struggle against the company’s closing and dismissal of all workers that was carried out with the aim of making IHI affiliates union-free.

On April 28, 11 union members of the TEC branch of the All-Japan Metal and Information Machinery Workers’ Union (JMIU) signed a settlement agreement with TEC at the Tokyo Metropolitan Labor Relations Commission.

In the agreements, TEC expressed regret for the shutdown, and stated that one JMIU member will be employed as a full-time worker by a company where he is currently on loan and six other members will be hired at an IHI subsidiary without pay cuts. At the company, the JMIU will represent the six workers. The company will hold collective bargaining talks with the JMIU. Those who have already reached retirement age will be paid a lump sum settlement.

JMIU TEC branch Chair Yoshida Masamori said, “Under the recent trend in which large corporations turn their backs on subcontractors, we can protect workers’ jobs through a struggle. IHI may have wanted to remove all those workers who put forward demands, but we have succeeded in thwarting this attempt. We will do our utmost by joining forces with other workers to protect workers’ rights.”

- Akahata, April 29, 2008