April 9, 2020
A union at a Japanese subsidiary of the U.S.-based Dow Chemical Company on April 6 filed with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Labor Relations Commission a complaint claiming that the parent company Dow Chemical’s refusal to negotiate with the union regarding a factory closure plan constitutes an unfair labor practice.
In June 2019, the Dow subsidiary Japan Acrylic Chemical Co., Ltd. expressed its intent to shut down its plant in Nagoya City under the pretext that the plant fails to meet the Dow-set safety standards.
In an attempt to stop the company’s move, the union at the Japan Acrylic Nagoya plant, which is a local of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren)-affiliated National Union of General Workers (Zenkoku-Ippan), began negotiating with the Dow subsidiary. In negotiations, however, the company agreed with the closure plan and showed no willingness to make efforts for the continuation of plant operations.
Six months later, the Zenkoku-Ippan local brought the case to the Tokyo labor relations commission. In reaction, Japan Acrylic unilaterally gave a briefing about the closure scheme to plant workers.
Following this move, the Zenkoku-Ippan branch requested the parent company Dow Chemical in America, which rules over Japan Acrylic’s asset management, to bargain collectively with the union on this matter. The union’s request, however, was rejected and the union filed a complaint against Dow Chemical with the Tokyo labor relations board.
Past related article:
> Tokyo labor board issues demand to Dow Chemical subsidiary regarding plant closing plan [January 31, 2020]
In June 2019, the Dow subsidiary Japan Acrylic Chemical Co., Ltd. expressed its intent to shut down its plant in Nagoya City under the pretext that the plant fails to meet the Dow-set safety standards.
In an attempt to stop the company’s move, the union at the Japan Acrylic Nagoya plant, which is a local of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren)-affiliated National Union of General Workers (Zenkoku-Ippan), began negotiating with the Dow subsidiary. In negotiations, however, the company agreed with the closure plan and showed no willingness to make efforts for the continuation of plant operations.
Six months later, the Zenkoku-Ippan local brought the case to the Tokyo labor relations commission. In reaction, Japan Acrylic unilaterally gave a briefing about the closure scheme to plant workers.
Following this move, the Zenkoku-Ippan branch requested the parent company Dow Chemical in America, which rules over Japan Acrylic’s asset management, to bargain collectively with the union on this matter. The union’s request, however, was rejected and the union filed a complaint against Dow Chemical with the Tokyo labor relations board.
Past related article:
> Tokyo labor board issues demand to Dow Chemical subsidiary regarding plant closing plan [January 31, 2020]
