January 28, 2016
The People’s Spring Struggle Joint Committee, which is composed of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and other independent unions, held a rally in Tokyo on January 26. About 1,100 participants strengthened their determination to work hard in this year’s spring labor offensive (shunto) to win wage increases and abolish the unconstitutional war legislation.
At the rally, Morita Minoru, representative of the Tokyo Spring Struggle Joint Conference, gave a speech on behalf of the organizing committee. Morita sounded a warning against Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s aim to have the ruling parties and other pro-constitutional revision forces obtain a two-thirds majority in the upcoming Upper House election. “This is a challenge to the general public and Japan’s postwar history as a peace-loving nation,” he said.
Morita went on to point out that workers’ real wages have declined for three straight years and more and more people are falling into poverty. “The only way to attain our demands is to gain broader public support by waging campaigns,” he stressed.
Members of the Japan Federation of Medical Workers’ Unions (Iroren) staged a short play titled “The Japan in 2050”. In that drama, they vividly depicted a future society where the Liberal Democratic Party government is completely destroying the social security programs while repeatedly mobilizing medical workers for U.S.-led wars abroad.
A representative of the Tokyo Construction Workers’ Union (Tokyo Doken) said that the union will struggle for a substantial increase in unit prices and the improvement of working conditions so that young people will continue working in the construction industry with hope for a better future.
At the rally’s conclusion, led by young union members, all participants shouted in chorus, “Give us more paid holidays!” “Raise the minimum wage!” and “Provide more regular full-time jobs!”
A delegate from the Japan Federation of Aviation Workers’ Union, which has been fighting for reinstatement of former JAL employees who were unfairly dismissed about five years ago, delivered a speech in solidarity.
Past related article:
> Demanding pay raise, union workers surround bldg. of biggest business lobby [January 14, 2016]
At the rally, Morita Minoru, representative of the Tokyo Spring Struggle Joint Conference, gave a speech on behalf of the organizing committee. Morita sounded a warning against Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s aim to have the ruling parties and other pro-constitutional revision forces obtain a two-thirds majority in the upcoming Upper House election. “This is a challenge to the general public and Japan’s postwar history as a peace-loving nation,” he said.
Morita went on to point out that workers’ real wages have declined for three straight years and more and more people are falling into poverty. “The only way to attain our demands is to gain broader public support by waging campaigns,” he stressed.
Members of the Japan Federation of Medical Workers’ Unions (Iroren) staged a short play titled “The Japan in 2050”. In that drama, they vividly depicted a future society where the Liberal Democratic Party government is completely destroying the social security programs while repeatedly mobilizing medical workers for U.S.-led wars abroad.
A representative of the Tokyo Construction Workers’ Union (Tokyo Doken) said that the union will struggle for a substantial increase in unit prices and the improvement of working conditions so that young people will continue working in the construction industry with hope for a better future.
At the rally’s conclusion, led by young union members, all participants shouted in chorus, “Give us more paid holidays!” “Raise the minimum wage!” and “Provide more regular full-time jobs!”
A delegate from the Japan Federation of Aviation Workers’ Union, which has been fighting for reinstatement of former JAL employees who were unfairly dismissed about five years ago, delivered a speech in solidarity.
Past related article:
> Demanding pay raise, union workers surround bldg. of biggest business lobby [January 14, 2016]
