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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

26% of workers in their 20s want to join a union

A survey shows that one in every four of non-unionized workers in their 20s is willing to join a workers' union.

The National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and the Japan Research Institute of Labor Movement, Zenroren's think tank, conducted the survey in August-September.

Twenty-six percent of those who are in their 20s and not unionized said that they are willing to join a union "immediately" or "if they have a chance," or that they are "considering joining."

Concerning unions that one can join on an individual basis, 35 percent of non-unionized workers in their 20s answered they "have an interest."

As for the reason why they do not affiliate themselves with a union, 30 percent of regular workers said that they "do not think unions are attractive," and 29 percent said they "do not want to spend time for union activities," while 30percent of non-regular workers said its is because they "are not asked to join" and "only regular workers are eligible"(27percent).

Although 80 percent of union leaders said they feel the need to recruit non-regular workers, 70 percent have no definite plans. Nearly 40 percent of them answered they cannot develop concrete plans on the grounds that "working conditions between regular and non-regular workers are too different to be united."

Eighty-seven percent of non-unionized workers, however, think that unions are "necessary" and 71 percent of union workers "valuable."
- Akahata, November 25, 2005