2008 APRIL 30 - MAY 13

Japan Press Weekly

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

2008 APRIL 30 - MAY 13

Shii, Hu agree to further strengthen JCP-CPC ties
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo and Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks on May 7 in Tokyo, and confirmed their willingness to further strengthen relations between the JCP and the Communist Party of China.

Extension of earmarked revenue for road construction is outrageous: JCP Ichida
In the House of Representatives Plenary Session on May 13, the ruling parties used their two-thirds majority to override a House of Councilors decision and enact the bill to maintain tax revenues to be used for road construction for the next 10 years.

IHI subcontractor apologizes to workers and secures their jobs
At Tokyo Engineering Co. (TEC), a subcontractor of Japan’s major military and machinery maker IHI Corporation, workers won an apology and secured their jobs after a struggle against the company’s closing and dismissal of all workers that was carried out with the aim of making IHI affiliates union-free.

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CONSTITUTION
Rallies and demonstrations held to celebrate the Constitution’s 61^st year
Advocates of constitutional revision irritated by increasing pacifism
22,000 people attend ‘Global Article 9 Conference’
Hawkish lawmakers discuss permanent overseas deployment of SDF
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U.S. FORCES
B-52 demo flight cancelled
Several thousand USFJ soldiers redeployed temporarily to Iraq and Afghanistan each year
U.S. Marines arrested for trespassing
Japanese employees with no X-ray license urged to work at U.S. Yokota Air Base

TAXES

Temporary’ tax on gas resumed; ruling bloc rams through related bills

Upper House rejects bill to continue to use gasoline and other road tax revenue

Extension of earmarked revenue for road construction is outrageous: JCP Ichida
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LABOR IN STRUGGLE

IHI subcontractor apologizes to workers and secures their jobs

May Day rallies take place at 357 locations across Japan

Unionized non-regular workers receive full-time position