Teachers' union protest refusal on use of city hall

The Saitama prefectural Teachers and Staff Union on June 18 filed a suit against the Shiki City mayor for his refusal to permit the union to use the city hall for its next annual convention.

The union's legal action came after the mayor retracted the permit, alleging possible threats by right-wing organizations to the 20th convention of the All Japan Teachers and Staff Union (Zenkyo) scheduled for July 5 and 6.

In a published statement on the same day, Zenkyo and the Saitama Teachers and Staff Union said that municipal authorities and the police must fulfill their responsibility to defend the constitutional freedom of assembly and speech. It pointed out that the right-wing gang groups trying to block the union convention by violence and threats are antagonistic to democracy.

Zenkyo Secretary Higashimori Hideo said, "Japan will go to ruin if no meetings can be held without approval of right-wing organizations."

The 20th Zenkyo convention will hold discussions on how educational conditions can be improved among other topics. (end)