35,000 people in rally urge government to protect jobs and livelihoods

Japan Press Weekly

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

35,000 people in rally urge government to protect jobs and livelihoods

About 35,000 people from across the country, including union workers, foreign workers, small business owners, farmers, pensioners, and students, on November 8 assembled in Tokyo to urge the coalition government to protect their jobs and livelihoods.

Speaking on behalf of the organizing committee, National Confederation of Trade Unions President Daikoku Sakuji said, “Measures to prevent a further deterioration in the job market and to solve the issue of unemployment and poverty should be taken without delay.” He appealed to participants to wage struggles to pressure big companies to fulfill their social responsibility and the new administration to solve the crisis of sustaining livelihoods. He also called on the government to remove U.S. military bases from Japan.

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo in his solidarity speech stated, “It depends on people’s involvement whether the direction of government policies can be changed or not.” He called on participants to increase the movement in order to press the government to withdraw the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station without conditions, to drastically review the Worker Dispatch Law, and to immediately abolish the discriminatory medical service system for the elderly aged 75 and over.

After the rally, people holding banners and placards marched in demonstration through Tokyo’s major shopping districts on three separate courses.

- Akahata, November 10, 2009