Japan Press Weekly

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2009 February 11 - 17 [LABOR]

Honda contingent workers form a labor union

Three contingent workers at the Honda Motor Suzuka Factory formed their own union represented by the All-Japan Metal and Information Machinery Workers’ Union (JMIU), and on February 16 urged Suzuka Factory to revoke their dismissal notices.

25-year-old fixed-term contract worker Yokawa Yuji was notified that he will be laid off on February 22, although he just started working there last December. Yokawa said that he thought he could work for a long time because the Honda at his interview never said that they are under a short-term contract.

Two other workers were hired six months ago and renewed their contracts many times. They received dismissal notices on February 22 and March 22.

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. on January 16 announced that it will eliminate 3,100 fixed-term jobs at the end of April. At the Suzuka factory, all 760 fixed-term contract workers who renewed their contracts in the two-month-term received dismissal notices.

JMIU Suzuka Branch pointed out that the use of fixed-term contract workers with two-month- contracts violates the Labor Contract Law which bans overly short contract terms, and insisted that Honda’s dismissal plan is illegal.

At a news conference, JMIU Suzuka Branch Chair Yokawa said, “If I knew that my contract term was only two months, I wouldn’t have chosen to work at Honda. My colleagues feel the same way. I’m angered by Honda’s mistreatment of us and we will continue our struggle.”