Labor unions in this year's spring struggle have won a wage increase of 5,976 yen on average per month, the 2004 People's Spring Struggle Joint Struggle Committee announced on April 16.
As of April 16, 315 out of 904 member unions had wage increase offers, chiefly in automobile, telecommunication, construction, metal and information machinery, printing and publishing, commercial broadcasting, and medical services.
Although many trade unions got "zero base wage increase" offers from employers, 48 percent of the unions have achieved better results than last year, which shows a significant change. On the whole, unions in small- and medium-sized enterprises apparently gained from putting up a good fight.
The National Trade Union Confederation (Zenroren) and the 2004 People's Spring Struggle Joint Struggle Committee will strengthen actions in the April 26-30 concluding stage of the Spring Struggle. They say the successful nationwide concerted action against adverse pension reform on April 15 will be an important springboard for further successes. (end)
