ANCC workers win 100% salary

Following the August 23 court rule that a 50% wage cut is invalid, the All Nippon Checkers Corporation (ANCC) will give up an appeal and pay plaintiffs their whole salary.

The ANCC Kobe Branch union, affiliated with the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), on September 6 held a news conference and announced this overall victory in court.

ANCC is an incorporated body for counting the quantity of and checking damage in exports and imports. On the grounds of a sharp drop in profits in the ANCC Kobe Branch due to the Great Hanshin Earthquake, the ANCC has enacted a 50-percent wage cut and zero allowance only to the Kobe Branch out of 10 branches since last April.

In the 16 months since 166 ANCC union workers filed their lawsuit, they have tenaciously taken action to call for support and collect signatures, despite the hardship of lower income.

In addition to the help from their families and supporters, the Hyogo Prefectural Federation of Trade Unions (Hyogo-roren) set up a 100-million yen fund (about 850,000 dollars) and has helped support the plaintiffs' legal costs and their cost of living. (end)