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2026 August 5 - 11 [LABOR]

Part-timers at yakiniku restaurant in Mie form union to fight against their unfair dismissals

Part-time workers working at a yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) restaurant in Mie’s Tsu City formed their union to fight against their unfair dismissals.

The restaurant, Yakiniku King, is operated by the restaurant chain company, the Monogatari Corporation (based in Aichi’s Toyohashi City). The company, citing the planned renovation of the restaurant in question (between July and December), had requested part-timers to either transfer to another location or, if that was not possible, to resign effective June 30.

In reaction to the company’s move, 33 part-timers, mostly college students, had consulted the Zenroren-affiliated Mie Prefectural Federation of Trade Unions (Mie-roren). They formed their union to demand that the company retract its unfair dismissals.

The newly-formed union on August 7 held its first round of collective bargaining negotiations. However, the company rejected the union’s demand.

At a press conference after the negotiation, a union member, who is a college student, said, “I would be in trouble if I lost income. I’ll continue to fight to push the company to retract its unfair dismissal.”