December 10, 2010
Japan Airlines on December 9 gave notice to the Japan Airlines Cabin Crew Union (CCU) and the JAL Flight Crew Union that the company will dismiss 202 crewmembers by the year’s end.
Those targeted are 34 cabin attendants now on administrative leave and 74 CAs who are 53 years old or older plus 94 pilots, including four who are currently on leave from work.
JAL is explaining that these dismissals are part of the corporate rehabilitation. However, the airline has already achieved its initial numerical goal of personnel cuts under its business reconstruction plan. It has also made more than 100 billion yen in operating profits, exceeding the amount it first anticipated.
In other words, the company is failing to meet the four requirements for dismissals as part of corporate reorganization: prove the necessity for personnel cuts; make efforts to avoid dismissals; give an objective and rational reason for selection of discharged employees; and take appropriate procedures to remove workers.
The CCU is proclaiming that it will call a strike for December 24 and 25 if the company goes ahead with the dismissals.
Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji on the same day issued a protest statement as follows:
Japan Airlines is forcing the targeted employees to accept early retirement or be fired for the purpose of corporate downsizing. The company is even interfering in workers’ unions in violation of the basic labor rights guaranteed in the Constitution. The dismissals will jeopardize flight safety and further erode the public trust.
Despite having injected public funds into the bailout of the airline, the government has not done anything to stop the company from forcing workers to give up their jobs and infringing on their basic labor rights. The government has not even suggested that the company avoid dismissing more workers in the name of corporate reorganization. The government should be held responsible for its lack of leadership. The JCP demands that the government instruct JAL to stop dismissing workers in the name of corporate reorganization and take initiatives in solving the issue through dialogue.
- Akahata, December 10, 2010
JAL is explaining that these dismissals are part of the corporate rehabilitation. However, the airline has already achieved its initial numerical goal of personnel cuts under its business reconstruction plan. It has also made more than 100 billion yen in operating profits, exceeding the amount it first anticipated.
In other words, the company is failing to meet the four requirements for dismissals as part of corporate reorganization: prove the necessity for personnel cuts; make efforts to avoid dismissals; give an objective and rational reason for selection of discharged employees; and take appropriate procedures to remove workers.
The CCU is proclaiming that it will call a strike for December 24 and 25 if the company goes ahead with the dismissals.
Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji on the same day issued a protest statement as follows:
Japan Airlines is forcing the targeted employees to accept early retirement or be fired for the purpose of corporate downsizing. The company is even interfering in workers’ unions in violation of the basic labor rights guaranteed in the Constitution. The dismissals will jeopardize flight safety and further erode the public trust.
Despite having injected public funds into the bailout of the airline, the government has not done anything to stop the company from forcing workers to give up their jobs and infringing on their basic labor rights. The government has not even suggested that the company avoid dismissing more workers in the name of corporate reorganization. The government should be held responsible for its lack of leadership. The JCP demands that the government instruct JAL to stop dismissing workers in the name of corporate reorganization and take initiatives in solving the issue through dialogue.
- Akahata, December 10, 2010
