labor4

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

Workers urge Toyota to fulfill its social responsibility

About 1,600 workers on February 11 held a day of action in front of Toyota's head office and factories in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, chanting, "Toyota must fulfill social responsibility."

Toyota Motor Corporation has made record earnings of more than one trillion yen for three years in a row. Yet, Toyota's Chairman Okuda Hiroshi as Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) head is opposed to workers' demands for monthly pay raise in this year's labor talks.

The day's action, the 27th of the kind, was organized by the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), the Aichi Prefectural Federation of Trade Unions, and other labor organizations.

While forcing workers into long-hours of work under harsh working conditions, Toyota has reported record high earnings. Japan's largest car maker is also forcing its suppliers to cut unit prices of parts.

Protesters included workers from Toyota and Toyota's subcontractors, as well as victims of air pollution caused by living near major highways.

Toyota worker Ishida Kuniyoshi, 56-year-old, said, "The number of temporary worker hired is surging at Toyota. A young worker who is 28 years old left Toyota complaining that he cannot plan for the future if he goes on working at Toyota. Demands are increasing at workplaces that Toyota retract its decision to not increase the pay scale."

Yabe Hiroshi, 40, who is working for a Toyota subcontractor in Tokushima Prefecture, said, "I've been working at Toyota's subcontractor for several years as a temporary worker and I've got no pay raise. I took part in establishing a union which succeeded in raising the hourly wage by 30 yen. However, even though I work overtime as often as I can, I receive no more than three million yen a year. I cannot allow such an employment system that wastes temporary workers to continue unchecked. I demand Toyota employ us temporary workers as regular workers."
-Akahata, February 12, 2006