2008 APRIL 23 - APRIL 29

No more ‘sympathy’ budget expenditure for U.S. forces in Japan!
When Japan enacted the so-called “sympathy” budget in 1978 to pay for extra costs for the stationing of U.S. forces in Japan, the amount was 6.2 billion yen and its usage was limited to payment of fringe benefits to Japanese employees at U.S. bases but has grown to more than 208 billion yen.

Toshiba promises to not continue discrimination of workers lasting over 40 years
Toshiba Corporation on April 24 reached an agreement with 96 workers, who have been demanding that the electronics giant stop discriminating against workers who are Japanese Communist Party members and other social or political activists, and give them their due promotions and wage hikes.

Matsushita Plasma Display’s use of independent contractor in disguise is illegal
The Osaka High Court has totally supported a worker who publicly condemned Japan’s major plasma display maker Matsushita Plasma Display Co. for illegally firing him after directly hiring him for five months.

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U.S. FORCES IN JAPAN
‘Sympathy budget’
No more ‘sympathy budget’ expenditure for U.S forces in Japan!: Akahata editorial (excerpts)
Upper House rejects ‘sympathy budget’
U.S. military housing being built outside U.S. bases
B-52s at U.S. air show
JCP in Diet demands nuclear-capable U.S. B-52 demo flight be cancelled
Hibakusha offended by U.S. forces plan to fly B-52s over Hiroshima
Hiroshima mayor asks U.S. to cancel B-52 flights
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SELF-DEFENSE FORCES
GSDF member arrested for murder
Suicide rate among SDF members returning from Iraq is far higher than that of U.S. soldiers
Armed Ground SDF members parade down local streets
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LABOR
Court orders Toshiba to pay compensation for worker’s depression
Toshiba promises to not continue discrimination of workers lasting over 40 years
Unionists take part in nationwide action calling for increase in minimum wages
Matsushita Plasma Display’s use of independent contractor in disguise is illegal: High court
JCP announces May Day slogans
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FOOD
U.S. meatpacker shipped risky cuts of beef in violation of a bilateral accord
Farmers’ and consumers’ organizations urge government to act to amend WTO rules
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BIOFUELS
Do not use grain as source of biofuel: JCP Yoshii
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MEDICAL SYSTEM
New medical system will discourage doctors from providing life-support treatment
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ARTICLE 9 ASSOCIATIONS
Over 7,000 Article 9 Associations are engaged in activities throughout Japan
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JCP
JCP candidate defeats LDP and DPJ candidates in Saitama Prefectural Assembly election
Ruling LDP-Komei bloc defeated by DPJ in Lower House by-election in Yamaguchi
JCP Shii attends Olympic Torch relay reception