Zenroren union leaders discuss fight against wage cuts

At a time when business circles are conducting the largest drive ever to hold down workers' wages, about 120 union members met on June 18 to discuss ways to stop wage declines.

The meeting was organized by the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) aimed at developing the struggle against corporate plans to abolish the annual pay raise system.

Ito Keiichi, Zenroren Research Bureau director, stated that business circles are emphasizing the need to deal with globalization and strengthen international competitiveness as the rationale to destroy the present wage system.

Pointing out that big companies seek to drastically and permanently worsen Japan's wage system, Ito called for building a powerful struggle in which public and private sector unions cooperate with each other as well as residents.

Many participants reported on their struggles. A worker from Hokkaido stated, "When we carried out a signature drive calling for a minimum hourly wage of 1,000-yen, workers lined up to sign." (end)