Workers fight against major manufacturer’s factory closure

Japan Press Weekly

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

Workers fight against major manufacturer’s factory closure

Workers are fighting against a major hydraulics maker’s attempt to dismiss regular workers by closing its factory.

After laying off all temporary workers by March this year, German hydraulics maker Bosh Rexroth announced in September that it will close its factory in Nagoya City and have another factory in Tsuchiura City, about 400 km away from Nagoya, take over production.

However, the company’s current profit has remained in surplus for three years since 2006, amounting to 2.2 billion yen. The net profit combined in those years is 2.3 billion yen. It has enough funds to fulfill its responsibility to keep its employees and not desert the local economy.

On November 23, the Bosh Nagoya branch of the All-Japan Metal and Information Machinery Workers' Union (JMIU) carried out a strike with about 200 JMIU members gathering from different areas, including from the Tsuchiura factory.

Bosh Nagoya branch Chair Shamoto Katsushiro said, “Japan has only two hydraulics makers. By closing the factory, Japan’s technical expertise will be weakened.”

JMIU Chair Ikuma Shigemi expressed determination that the JMIU will continue to fight against the ongoing restructuring being carried out throughout the nation under the pretext of a need to close factories.

Since the Nagoya factory is located in a farming area, many workers work at the factory while producing farm products with their families. Most workers are unable to move to Tsuchiura. Closure of the factory will also negatively affect the local economy, including its subcontractors and customers.

Under its promotion of restructuring, the company in 2002 closed the Hotei factory, located close to Nagoya. Workers’ struggles prevented the Nagoya factory from being closed.

“Ten years ago, we marched in demonstration against the factory closure,” said Komada Hiromi, who has been working for Bosh for 39 years. “I went to a night high school while working (at the factory). Now I only have a few years left until retirement. It is such a preposterous idea to close the factory.”

Hasegawa Tomoyuki, a 39-year-old worker who moved from the Hotei to the Nagoya factory, said, “It is irresponsible for the company to dispose of workers under the current recession. For us to be able to continue to work, I will do everything I can.”

- Akahata, November 30, 2009