January 26, 2016

Seven laid-off women workers on January 25 reached an out-of-court settlement with the major cosmetics maker Shiseido and the staffing agency Anfini. An 80-month-long struggle by these temporary workers has ended in their total victory.

The seven temporary agency workers are members of the Anfini branch of the National Union of General Workers (Zenkoku-Ippan) affiliated with the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren).

Mediated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Labor Relations Commission, Shiseido and Anfini agreed to withdraw their dismissals and pay them settlement money.

After the agreement was signed, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Hatano Kimie and 50 other supporters gathered in the labor commission office to share in the joy of their victory.

Ikeda Kazuyo, one of the seven, poured out her heart by saying, “Honestly speaking, I always wanted to give up on this uphill battle. But looking at your faces, I couldn’t dare say that.” In tears, she expressed thanks to the supporters.

Tsuyuki Mika said that as soon as she informed Anfini of her joining the union, she received an express mail on her day off which informed her of the termination of her contact. “I am not a regular worker but I have believed in myself and continued fighting for the fundamental rights of workers. I’m really happy about this outcome.”

Lawyer Fujita Haruhisa, representing the workers counsel, said, “This is a landmark settlement as Shiseido, a major corporation, accepted its responsibility in its treatment of agency workers.”

The seven workers worked in the production of lipstick at the Shiseibo Kamakura factory in Kanagawa Prefecture. In May 2009, Shiseido terminated the contracts of 24 temporary workers due to production cuts in the wake of the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. Two months later, seven of the 24 filed a lawsuit with the Yokohama District Court against Shiseido and Anfini, seeking their reinstatement and the payment of back pay. They won a partial victory in court, but Shiseido continued to refuse to hold negotiations with the union. This led the seven workers to file a claim for relief with the Tokyo Metropolitan Labor Relations Commission, complaining that the refusal of collective bargaining is an unfair labor practice.

Past related articles:
> Court shuts its eyes to Shiseido’s unjust dismissal of temps [July 11, 2014]
> Shiseido’s ‘ugly’ dismissal of temporary workers [January 8, 2013]
> Shiseido illegally dismissed temporary workers [December 25, 2009]
> 7 female temporary workers fight against Shiseido’s dismissal [December 11, 2009]