Workers sue IBM

Japan Press Weekly

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

Workers sue IBM

Three workers of the All Japan Metal and Information Machinery Workers' Union (JMIU) on May 29 filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court against IBM Japan demanding that the company stop forcing them to quit jobs in manners that violate human rights using threats and slanders. They are demanding the company pay them compensation for mental damage they suffered.

The petition says that IBM Japan between October and December in 2008 carried out a large scale job cut as part of its cost-cutting restructuring scheme under the pretext of declines in production.

Supervisors summoned listed workers and asked them to quit. When workers refused to quit, supervisors threatened them to quit by saying, "If you don't agree to quit, you will be dismissed within 48 hours."

The JMIU IBM branch estimated that about 1,500 workers were forced to quit their jobs.

A plaintiff at a news conference pointed out that many of those who still work or quit are suffering from depression due to the company's persistent interview, and said, "By censuring IBM Japan for its illegal labor practice which is guilty, I want to get the company apologize."

Another plaintiff revealed that he was summoned for five times a month after his refusal to quit the job. This made his asthma worse because he took sleeping pills to sleep.

- Akahata May 30, 2009