January 29, 2016
The Yokohama District Court on January 19 nullified the dismissal of a female Japan Post contract worker and ordered the company to pay back wages.
The plaintiff, Shimizu Rie, is a member of the Postal Industry Workers’ Union (PIWU).
In January 2003, Shimizu began working at Japan Post’s local office in Yokohama City on a six month fixed term contract. She was assigned the job of arranging mail in the order of addresses to which the mail was to be delivered for 10 years with the repeated renewal of her contract. However, in November 2013, she was fired on the grounds of the abolition of the job.
The ruling points out that it is natural for Shimizu to expect the extension of her contract based on the past constant renewal of her contract by the postal company. It also states that the termination of her contract could have been avoided through various measures such as her transfer to a new post.
On the following day, the union visited Japan Post to demand the reinstatement of Shimizu without delay.
The plaintiff, Shimizu Rie, is a member of the Postal Industry Workers’ Union (PIWU).
In January 2003, Shimizu began working at Japan Post’s local office in Yokohama City on a six month fixed term contract. She was assigned the job of arranging mail in the order of addresses to which the mail was to be delivered for 10 years with the repeated renewal of her contract. However, in November 2013, she was fired on the grounds of the abolition of the job.
The ruling points out that it is natural for Shimizu to expect the extension of her contract based on the past constant renewal of her contract by the postal company. It also states that the termination of her contract could have been avoided through various measures such as her transfer to a new post.
On the following day, the union visited Japan Post to demand the reinstatement of Shimizu without delay.
