October 4 & 5, 2009

The 54th Central Rally of Working Women ended its two-day program on October 4 by confirming that participants will further increase cooperation at workplaces and local areas in order to realize a society where men and women are equally treated and the Japanese Constitution is fully implemented in people’s daily lives.

Participants reported on their struggles to protect workers’ rights. On behalf of the Bando Chemical Industries General Workers’ Union, affiliated to the Hyogo Federation of Trade Unions (Hyogo-Roren), a 40-year-old woman, who has been in Japan for 18 years since leaving Brazil, revealed that her company announced it will close a factory in Hyogo and dismiss workers who cannot move to another factory in Tochigi Prefecture. “I cannot move to Tochigi because my son goes to a local high school. My company is trying to get rid of workers it no longer needs,” she said.

“Temporary workers’ monthly wage is 100,000 yen at most. Women’s low wages keeps our social status low. To guarantee women’s income is important to protect the local economy,” said a 51-year-old woman working at a hospital in Sapporo City.

A member of the Kyoto General Council of Trade Unions (Kyoto-Sohyo), 55, said, “I have been waiting for establishment of the separate surname system for married couples. Members of the Diet and local assemblies should be aware of the legal binding force of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. We’d like to promote union efforts in regard to this issue.”
-Akahata, October 4 & 5, 2009