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

260,000 unionists in various actions call for wage increase

On the day following the electricity-metal giants' March 15 "wage increase" offers to major private sector unions, unionists of the Joint Struggle Committee for Victory in the People's Spring Offensive waged national concerted actions, including strikes, street actions, and collective bargainings, calling for winning wage increases for all workers.

About 260,000 unionists took part in the day's action, including participating in rallies and demonstration marches held in all 47 prefectures.

The Committee is made up of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) with about 1.5 million members and other unions.

Strikes were launched by the All Japan Construction Union, the Transport and General Workers Union (CTG), the All-Japan Metal and Information Machinery Workers' Union (JMIU), the Telecommunication Industry Workers' Union, the Japan Federation of Medical Workers' Unions, and many smaller unions.

Public employees affiliated with the Japan Federation of Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Unions (Jichiroren) and other unions also took to the streets and held rallies, shouting, "Don't cut social services!"

In Sapporo City in Hokkaido, unionists delivered leaflets to non-regular workers. Women unionists in Osaka called out "we need to raise wages now" to passers-by holding rape blossoms in their hands.

Zenroren President Kumagai Kanemichi before about 700 workers at a rally in Kokubunji City in western Tokyo said that winning wage increases will help the public to become secure, and the society to be safe. He called for further struggles in the spring labor offensive.

Asia Electronics, Toshiba's subsidy, promised its union to raise the hourly wage for part-timers by 15 yen.
- Akahata, March 17, 2006