May 16, 2019
A union organizing NHK fee-collecting contractors on May 15 at the Tokyo High Court again won a court ruling endorsing the union’s claim.
In the court battle, the union claimed that independent contractors who are engaged in collecting NHK subscription fees door to door are recognized as “workers” specified in the Labor Union Law. It also maintained that NHK’s refusal to negotiate with the union constitutes an unfair labor practice.
The rejection of union demands by Japan’s sole public broadcaster took place in 2010 when the union requested NHK to hold negotiations regarding anti-union behavior displayed by a manager of an NHK sales office in Nagoya. The public broadcaster rejected the union’s request by arguing that contract staff collecting fees are “not workers”.
At a press conference after the ruling, secretary general of the NHK fee contractors’ union Fujiki Tomu noted that in a similar case in Osaka, the Supreme Court decision in favor of the union’s position was finalized. The union officer said, “We’ll make the best use of the latest court decision in our ongoing dialogue with NHK regarding an agreement on negotiation rules.”
Past related article:
> NHK ‘contract staff’ recognized as 'worker' as specified in Labor Union Law [September 29, 2018]
In the court battle, the union claimed that independent contractors who are engaged in collecting NHK subscription fees door to door are recognized as “workers” specified in the Labor Union Law. It also maintained that NHK’s refusal to negotiate with the union constitutes an unfair labor practice.
The rejection of union demands by Japan’s sole public broadcaster took place in 2010 when the union requested NHK to hold negotiations regarding anti-union behavior displayed by a manager of an NHK sales office in Nagoya. The public broadcaster rejected the union’s request by arguing that contract staff collecting fees are “not workers”.
At a press conference after the ruling, secretary general of the NHK fee contractors’ union Fujiki Tomu noted that in a similar case in Osaka, the Supreme Court decision in favor of the union’s position was finalized. The union officer said, “We’ll make the best use of the latest court decision in our ongoing dialogue with NHK regarding an agreement on negotiation rules.”
Past related article:
> NHK ‘contract staff’ recognized as 'worker' as specified in Labor Union Law [September 29, 2018]
