Sapporo local union attracts temps

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Sapporo local union attracts temps

"What's the problem?" When temporary workers drop in a National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren)-affiliated Sapporo District Council of Trade Unions office located in suburban Sapporo City in Hokkaido, secretariat staff members always ask them the same question.

"My boss has begun to make unreasonable demands once again," is often the reply of young workers.

These contingent workers are members of a local union called "Yui" (meaning ties), in which they can join individually.

"Yui" was established with the strong support of the Sapporo District Council of Trade Unions one day before the 2005 May Day. Since then, "Yui" has worked hard to help non-regular workers, who work at low-paying jobs deprived of labor rights, to obtain paid day-offs, payment of back pay, and extensions of employment.

As a result, the number of union members has increased more than four times, exceeding 110.

A 46-year-old janitor, Miyabe Suenobu, works for a building cleaning firm, which used to fail to provide its workers with health insurance and annual paid holidays. When Miyabe and his colleague requested the company president to improve their working conditions, his colleague was dismissed.

Having heard of the union from a friend, Miyabe decided to visit the union office. After listening in detail to his complaint, "Yui" Chief Secretary Kimura Shunji, 52, said, "This is a case of unfair discharge. Are you willing to fight against it?"

Miyabe joined the union and requested his company to sit at the collective bargaining table. In the second negotiation meeting, he succeeded in having the company withdraw the dismissal and to give in his other demands such as the introduction of annual paid holidays, health insurance, medical checkups, and overtime pay.

"Yui" union members work for different companies located in Sapporo City. There are no more than six members in each workplace, in most workplaces have only one member.

In order to alleviate their anxieties and troubles, the union holds a drinking party once a month. Every time, 30 to 40 people, including their friends, non-union workers, and foreign workers, come along to the party and enjoy conversations till late at night. The union also holds out-door recreational activities and study meetings to learn about labor rights.

"Through the study sessions, I came to realize that employers and capitalists only look to making profits. I didn't know that union activities could be so much fun," said Miyabe.

In the third "Yui" congress in October, Kabashima Satoru, 44, was elected as the new chairman. He said, "Most members of this union don't know what a labor union is. Our knowledge and experience in the labor movement is limited, but we want to work hard to help them solve their problems."
- Akahata, November 29, 2006