Let us join forces to overcome attacks on people's living conditions -- Akahata editorial, January 24

The 2003 Spring Struggle is reaching a climax. The demands of workers for their living standards and jobs to be protected are particularly urgent.

Corporate profits jump while people's livelihoods continue worsening

Major corporations have achieved a V-shaped recovery of profits, but the people's living standards are the lowest ever.

Nominal wages have been declining for four consecutive years. The job market is like an "unemployment hell." The number of companies going bankrupt has reached the second highest level since the end of WWII.

The most recent yearly profit figures for the big three in the automobile industry broke all records, and listed companies in the business year ending in March 2003 are expected to increase their profits by 70 percent from the previous year. The total amount of major companies' internal reserves is 145 trillion yen.

The major corporations' recovery has been made possible by a "restructuring effect" they have enjoyed at the cost of workers and subcontractors.

Without doubt, corporate greed has discouraged consumers from spending money and further put the nation's economy in disarray, which is described by many as a "stalled economic recovery."

At this juncture, Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) is saying that the Spring Labor Offensive no longer has a role to play, that there can't be an increase in basic monthly pay in the present circumstances, that the annual pay raise system should be reviewed, and that wage cuts may be necessary. This is how the business organization is refusing to assume its social responsibility to maintain workers' living conditions and help develop the economy for the people.

Toyota Motor Corporation, which is led by Okuda Hiroshi, chairman of Nippon Keidanren, expects the largest ever operational profits of 1.4 trillion yen in the annual settlement in March. However, taking advantage of the union's decision to give up the demand for a raise in the basic pay, Toyota is forcing workers to accept a zero raise as it did last year.

Toyota have made huge profits because the workers are working extraordinarily long hours. This is what Japanese Communist Party House of Representatives member Yamaguchi Tomio pointed out at the Lower House Budget Committee meeting.

It's important to note that in this year's spring struggle, although most of trade unions in major companies do not call for salary raises, the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), along with many other unions, are demanding a wage increase and job security against corporate restructuring.

The former trade unions are requesting that all types of wages, including wages of all workers, hourly wages for part-time workers, the starting pay, and the minimum wage be increased, and that the wage disparity between men and women be removed.

This demand for a wage increase for all workers is significant at a time when employers are moving towards cutting wages, using the existence of the enormous number of the unemployed and workers on unstable jobs as a leverage.

Equally important in the Spring Struggle is to fight against the Koizumi government causing unendurable suffering on the people.

The people's living conditions will be totally undermined, as they are asked to pay an additional 4 trillion yen (34 billion dollars) for the adversely revised social services and in taxes, and the financial circles are taking the lead in a campaign calling for the consumption tax rate to be increased to eventually 16 percent.

This has given rise to grumbling and anger erupting from even among those who used to support the Liberal Democratic Party.

Four medical organizations, including the Japan Medical Association, have risen to call for a freeze on the increase of employees' health insurance payment to 30 percent. People in a wide range of industrial and economic circles are criticizing the government for accelerating the disposal of bad loans held by major banks, increasing the consumption tax rate, and introducing a size-based corporate taxation system.

Essential to economic revival

At a time when the demands of workers are shared by more people than ever, the Spring Struggle can be developed into a national movement if we push ahead with discussions and cooperation with a broader range of people.

It is essential for the Spring Struggle to achieve the working people's keen demands not only to safeguard the people's livelihoods but also to achieve a democratic revival of the Japanese economy by enhancing the purchasing power of consumers.

Let the 2003 Spring Struggle pave the way for a movement in opposition to war on Iraq and calling for a peaceful resolution of the question within the framework of the United Nations, along with election campaigns to change politics. (end)