Unions should not support a specific political party

Japan Press Weekly

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Unions should not support a specific political party

The largest national center of trade unions in Japan, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo), has traditionally maintained a policy to require its member unions to support a specific political party.

The Rengo-affiliated Hokkaido Teachers Union reportedly made illegal political donations to Democratic Party representative Kobayashi Chiyomi in the 2009 general election. Donations to individual politicians from corporations and organizations are prohibited under the Political Fund Control Law.

Rengo member unions support DPJ

Rengo at its annual meeting in October 2009 determined that it will make efforts to achieve the DPJ’s victory in the upcoming Upper House election in order to help strengthen the present administration. Based on this policy, Rengo and its affiliate unions are giving their endorsement to DPJ candidates and providing support to their election campaigns.

In a bid to assist the DPJ election campaign, each Rengo member union forms a political organization. For example, the Toyota labor union has its own political organization and gave five million yen in political donations to the DPJ in 2008.

If someone in a union says he/she wants to vote for a party other than the DPJ, the union does not hesitate to deprive this member of his/her rights as a union member.

The National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), on the other hand, in its constitution states that union members’ freedom of thought and political activities should be guaranteed, and that labor unions should secure “independence from political parties.” In relation with political parties, Zenroren takes a stance to respect each member’s independent decision regarding what party they support and to work together based on common demands irrespective of political affiliations.

Mistake against the Constitution

What is the problem with a labor union policy that requires union members to support a specific political party?

Everyone is free to support a political party of their choice and vote for candidates according to their individual political beliefs. This is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Japanese Constitution which states, “Freedom of thought and conscience shall not be violated.”

If people are unable to exercise their right to vote, national policies will not accurately reflect public opinion. This will cause a collapse of democracy.

Forcing their members to make campaign contributions and to participate in election activities is a clear violation of freedom of thought and creed. It is undemocratic and labor unions should exist to protect democracy.

Distortion of labor unions’ characteristics

Labor unions are not political parties. They are popular organizations for their members to work together to realize their urgent demands regardless of differences of thoughts, faith, or political affiliation. If they require their members to support a certain political party or take part in a particular election campaign, they would be turned into the party’s branch or affiliated body.

Forcing union members to support a certain political party can be an obstacle to develop their joint struggles as workers to realize their common demands. Their fundamental right to freely choose a political party must be guaranteed. This is important now as cooperation among workers is increasing to improve working conditions and social welfare programs for all.

Party’s responsibility

Political parties are responsible for carrying out election campaigns as one of their fundamental activities. They must not depend on labor unions to collect money and provide supporters to assist in election campaigns.

The Democratic Party of Japan in February 2003 issued a statement titled, “Our basic stance on cooperation with Rengo and other labor unions.” It describes Rengo as striving to create a political force which is centered on the DPJ and which covers a wide range of workers and residents. The DPJ in this statement openly declares that it will further develop cooperation with Rengo as one of its important partners in an effort to create networks among all levels of the society.

The DPJ has not expressed remorse for the illegal donations one of its Dietmembers had allegedly received from a Rengo-affiliated teachers’ union in Hokkaido.

As the Japanese Communist Party stated in the Resolution of its 25th Congress, the Rengo leadership is called on to overcome its two main weaknesses, maintaining support for a particular political party and continued labor-management collaboration, if it truly intends to promote cooperation in order to realize the demands of workers.

- Akahata, March 12, 2010