April 4, 2024

Seeking to win substantial wage hikes, a union of workers at Central Security Patrols Co., Ltd (CSP), one of Japan’s top three companies in the security and patrol services industry, on April 3 went on strike.

According to the CSP Union, which was organized as a branch of the Japan Metal, Manufacturing, Information and Telecommunication Workers' Union (JMITU), the monthly wage of security guards is 100,000 yen lower than the national average. In this year’s spring wage offensive (shunto), the union is demanding that the company increase the pay scale by 80,000 yen and guarantee a monthly minimum of 230,000 yen.

The company refused to accept the union’s demand and instead issued a presidential statement offering a 3% pay hike. However, the company’s rules stipulate that with the annual revision, the monthly wage will be raised by 1,000 yen. The union said that it is unclear how the company’s 3% figure was calculated.

At a rally held during the strike in front of the company’s head office in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward, CSP Union head Hori Kazuhiro said, “The union, since its founding 12 years ago, has urged the company to negotiate with us regarding wage hikes and other demands. However, the company always refused to sit at the bargaining table.” He added, “We want the company to revise its dictatorial attitude and talk with the union. This is why we decided to go on strike.”