Eradicate working-poor from workplaces in local governments

Japan Press Weekly

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

Eradicate working-poor from workplaces in local governments

Local government contingent workers held a rally on April 26 in Tokyo regardless of the labor federation they belong to in order to help increase the struggle to eradicate the number of "working poor" from their workplaces.

About 430 people participated in the rally, which was sponsored by an organizing committee consisting of representatives of the Japan Federation of Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Unions (Jichiroren) and the All-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Unions (Jichiro) as well as concerned lawyers.

Participants reported on their harsh working conditions at schools, libraries, day-care centers, and other public services outsourced to private firms.

A counselor at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Consumer Affairs Center said that she and her colleagues formed a labor union to struggle against their employers' unilateral termination of contracts in their fifth year. The union is attempting to create workplaces where workers can improve their skills and accumulate experience, she added.

A worker of a bus-repair company reported that he became a library director because Tokyo's Adachi Ward outsourced its library services to his company. He criticized that while he did not mind working overtime and help his library increase the number of books, the municipal office recognized him as a "high cost" employee and dismissed him.

Participants applauded a non-regular nursery teachers' report about their victorious court ruling, which ordered Nakano Ward to revoke their dismissals. This decision was made after the municipal office decided to outsource part of its childcare services.

Jichiroren Chair Kawanishi Reiko, Jichiro member Yamashita Hiroyuki, and the weekly "Toyokeizai" magazine reporter Okada Hiroyuki held a discussion. Kawanishi said that she was impressed by the participants who have gotten together despite their different union affiliation and stressed that workers in public services must improve their "working-poor" conditions in order to protect the services they are providing for residents.

- Akahata, April 27, 2009