 Concerted labor action calls for wage increase for all workers In all 47 prefectures, including Tokyo, about 250,000 workers carried out a concerted action on March 17 calling for wage increases for all workers, including part-time and other temporary workers. The concerted action that included half-day strikes, was proposed by the 2005 National Spring Struggle Joint Struggle Committee. Twenty-five unions affiliated with the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) as well as non-affiliated unions took part in the action. Construction workers and workers in the electronics and information industry went on strikes for a half hour or a half day. They held workplace meetings and marched in demonstration through the city during lunchtime. Some workers in large buses visited these striking workplaces to encourage the workers. In Osaka, more than 10,000 citizens took part in the concerted action. Some 400 medical workers, including those coming off the night shift, attended the rally and called for the defense of the lives and health of working people. The All Japan Metal and Information Machinery Workers' Union (JMIU) in Osaka carried out a half-day strike with 250 workers, protesting against the employer's offer of a 2 yen increase in part-timers' hourly wages. Takazawa Shingo, 27, a JMIU ultrasonic industry branch member who attended a united strike meeting in Tachikawa City, Tokyo, said, "The wage we are paid is too low compared to the cost of living. We can't live even minimally unless our monthly wage is increased." (end) |