Unions stage day of action for better wages and jobs as part of 2009 Spring Struggle

Japan Press Weekly

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

Unions stage day of action for better wages and jobs as part of 2009 Spring Struggle

Unions affiliated with the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and the People's Spring Struggle Joint Committee on March 5 staged a day of action under the slogan: "Victory of 2009 Spring Struggle! Eradicate poverty! End the crisis of living conditions!"

About 3,000 workers assembled in the government office district of Kasumiagaseki in Tokyo to hold rallies in front of ministry buildings and petition lawmakers.

1,500 people converged on the Labor Ministry to demand government measures to protect jobs and reduce the number of working poor.

Zenroren President Daikoku Sakuji said that both public sector workers and private sectors workers should join forces to get the minimum wage raised and to have the urgent needs of the working poor addressed without accepting the unjustified termination of employment contracts of temporary workers.

In front of the Transport Ministry Building, 500 transport workers chanted their demand that the government, "take responsibility for the failure of deregulation policy."

The All Japan Construction, Transport and General Workers' Union (Kenkoro) Chair Sato Ryoichi pointed out that deregulation has hit the transport industry with taxi workers' annual incomes having decreased to below the poverty line. Many taxi drivers need public welfare assistance due to the oversupply of taxi cabs.

Sato called on participants to demand a wage increase and secure employment through increasing the struggle that has won some policy change and forced the restoration of some regulations.

Earlier in the day, the All Japan Automobile Transport Workers' Union (Jikosoren) held a rally in Meiji Park in central Tokyo with 1,400 people attending. Participants marched in demonstration along Meiji Avenue with a mobilization of 400 taxi cabs.

About 100 branches of the All Japan Metal and Information Machinery Workers' Union (JMIU) waged actions throughout the country, including strikes and rallies in protest against inadequate offers of wage increases.

- Akahata, March 6, 2009