April 13, 2012
Former Japan Airlines pilots and cabin attendants in lawsuits demanding retraction of their dismissals on April 11 submitted their appeal to the Tokyo High Court.
Those who joined the appeal procedures are 71 plaintiffs in each of two lawsuits initially filed by 76 pilots and 72 cabin attendants.
While acknowledging that companies need to fulfill four legal requirements to initiate dismissal, the Tokyo District Court rulings state that JAL needed to cut pilot and flight attendant jobs since it was undergoing a rehabilitation plan.
At a press conference on the following day, cabin crew and plaintiff Uchida Taeko said, “The lower court ruled that former JAL chair Inamori Kazuo’s remark denying the necessity for dismissals was only his subjective opinion. In the appeal trial, I hope this ruling will be found to be unjust.”
She also pointed out that the airline began recruiting workers as flight attendants in order to cover the labor shortage caused by its massive job cuts. “We can go back to our jobs after completing a five-day period of training and help with new recruits. While fighting this out in court, we urge the company to voluntarily settle the dispute as soon as possible.”
Citing the fact that many JAL aircraft experience minor problems during flight, secretary general of the JAL Cabin Crew Union (CCU) Mogi Yumiko stressed, “The dismissed workers were CCU members who used to express their opinions regarding the need to secure flight safety.” She said that flight attendants now have to prioritize increasing in-flight sales, which makes it difficult for them to pay enough attention to other duties.
The National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) on April 11 released a statement calling on its members to make further efforts to increase its nationwide movement to support the JAL workers’ court battle.
In the statement, Zenroren pointed out that the lower court rulings might make it easier for employers to avoid fulfilling the four legal requirements before dismissing their workers. It also states that it considers struggle against the rulings as a major task to oppose the elimination of jobs and it will work to strengthen the struggle.
Those who joined the appeal procedures are 71 plaintiffs in each of two lawsuits initially filed by 76 pilots and 72 cabin attendants.
While acknowledging that companies need to fulfill four legal requirements to initiate dismissal, the Tokyo District Court rulings state that JAL needed to cut pilot and flight attendant jobs since it was undergoing a rehabilitation plan.
At a press conference on the following day, cabin crew and plaintiff Uchida Taeko said, “The lower court ruled that former JAL chair Inamori Kazuo’s remark denying the necessity for dismissals was only his subjective opinion. In the appeal trial, I hope this ruling will be found to be unjust.”
She also pointed out that the airline began recruiting workers as flight attendants in order to cover the labor shortage caused by its massive job cuts. “We can go back to our jobs after completing a five-day period of training and help with new recruits. While fighting this out in court, we urge the company to voluntarily settle the dispute as soon as possible.”
Citing the fact that many JAL aircraft experience minor problems during flight, secretary general of the JAL Cabin Crew Union (CCU) Mogi Yumiko stressed, “The dismissed workers were CCU members who used to express their opinions regarding the need to secure flight safety.” She said that flight attendants now have to prioritize increasing in-flight sales, which makes it difficult for them to pay enough attention to other duties.
The National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) on April 11 released a statement calling on its members to make further efforts to increase its nationwide movement to support the JAL workers’ court battle.
In the statement, Zenroren pointed out that the lower court rulings might make it easier for employers to avoid fulfilling the four legal requirements before dismissing their workers. It also states that it considers struggle against the rulings as a major task to oppose the elimination of jobs and it will work to strengthen the struggle.
