Union workers, pensioners, small business people in rallies to voice rejection of government 'reform' plans

Thousands of union members, small- and medium-sized business operators, and pensioners assembled in Tokyo's government office district on November 20 to put pressure on the government and parliament to stop introducing more measures, such as tax increases, that will destroy the living conditions of many people.

Zenroren workers

About 3,000 people attended a rally held by the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) at the Hibiya Amphitheater across from the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.

Speaking on behalf of the organizers, Zenroren President Kumagai Kanemichi emphasized that the struggle to protect jobs is all the more important because of the Koizumi Cabinet policy of accelerating the disposal of banks' bad loans. He said that unions must increase their voices rejecting the Koizumi Cabinet in order to foil the plan to impose an extra burden of three-trillion yen on the people and to stop U.S. military attacks on Iraq and oppose Japan's wartime legislation.

The Japanese Communist Party's acting secretariat head, Fudesaka Hideyo, pointed out that criticism of the Koizumi Cabinet is arising even from within the business circles for ruining Japan's economy and people's living. He stressed that wider cooperation can be developed in the struggle against the undemocratic government policies.

Social Democratic Party Leader Doi Takako sent a message of support to the rally.

Pensioners

Some 1,800 pensioners from throughout Japan held a rally at Hibiya Amphitheater, chanting, "No cuts in pension benefits and no adverse changes in social services."

Addressing the rally, the All Japan Pensioners' Union Chair Koizumi Hiroshi called on participants to help create larger movement to oppose the adverse revisions of social services that will only put brakes on personal consumption and eventually worsen the economy.

The "Cut Military Expenditure and Improve Welfare and Education" People's Big Movement organizing committee and the Central Council for Promotion of Social Security made representations to Dietmembers, demanding that all anti-people bills be scrapped. (end)