Zenroren recommended-nominee appointed to Central Labor Relations Commission

Japan Press Weekly

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Zenroren recommended-nominee appointed to Central Labor Relations Commission

A nominee recommended by the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) was appointed by the government as a labor member of the government to the Central Labor Relations Commission (CLRC) for the first time since Zenroren was founded in 1989.

Yodo Fusako, a former vice chair of the Japan National Hospital Workers' Union (JNHWU/ZEN-IRO) will serve as a CLRC member in charge of independent administrative agency employees, who are treated as public service employees. Her term of office is two years.

The government for more than 18 years, appointed only Rengo-recommended persons to the 15 CLRC, excluding Zenroren even in contravention of its stated policy of appointing members according to the size of the federation.

Zenroren, together with the Conference of Independent Unions (CIU) and the Mass Media Information and Culture (MIC) labor group, established a joint organization for the democratization of the CLRC.

Apparently, the government was obliged to consider the fact that the International Labour Organization has recommended that Japan redress the unfair appointment, that 9 non-Rengo nominees be appointed as members representing labor at nine prefectural Labor Relations Commissions, and that the Zenroren majority in independent administrative agency employees, including the National Hospital Organization be represented.

In a joint statement issued on the same day, Zenroren, the CIU, and MIC said, “This appointment is the first since the 1989 realignment of the Japanese labor front and is an historic event.” They stressed that they will continue to fight to protect workers’ rights and achieve an appointment to the CLRC a member representing private sectors’ labor.

Yodo said, “I will do my best to act in defense of workers’ interests. I will play a role in the effort to eliminate unfair labor practices, protect workers’ rights, and enable workers to work with dignity.” - Akahata, November 16, 2008