September 18, 2025

The Denki-Joho Union, which organizes individual workers in the electronics and information industries and is affiliated with the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), held a convention on September 14 in Tokyo, resolving to fight against corporate downsizing as well as against workplace bullying and harassment by utilizing international labor standards.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councillors Yamazoe Taku delivered a speech in solidarity.

Denki-Joho Union Chair Naruki Hikoro in his speech said that it is totally unacceptable that Panasonic and Mitsubishi Electric, while enjoying record-breaking profits, are moving forward with their restructuring schemes. He called on union members to use the ILO-set international labor standards and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights as leverage to fight back against large corporations’ massive job-cut attempts.

Union members talked about their experiences in their struggles against companies’ unfair treatment and corporate restructuring.

Nitta Keiichiro, who works at a leading automation company, Omron Corporation, said, “In 2024, the company announced its plan to cut 2,000 jobs. Since then, I had been pressured to accept early retirement offers many times in private interviews. Aiming to put a stop to this move, I made representations to the Labor Ministry with help from the JCP. I presented an Akahata article reporting on my act, and succeeded in achieving my aim.”

Hitachi worker Murata Mitsuhiro said, “The company had unfairly rejected my application for reemployment after reaching the company-set retirement age of 65. I have been waging a fight against the company’s unfair decision by utilizing the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct.”

A Toshiba worker reported, “I have won the revocation of the company’s transfer order to a remote office. In addition, I have gained a promotion which had been unjustly delayed.”