Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2010 December 15 - 21 [LABOR]

Joint struggle body to be formed to support JAL workers

Representatives of trade unions, citizens organizations, and lawyers held a news conference in Tokyo on December 20 to call on the public to join a campaign to support the Japan Airlines workers’ struggle to have the company’s illegal dismissals retracted. The joint struggle body will be inaugurated on December 27.

At the press conference, they stressed that to get the unjust dismissal orders retracted not only helps defend JAL workers’ rights and livelihoods but affects all workers and is part of a national task demanding that the aviation administration place importance on safety and the public interest.

National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) President Daikoku Sakuji said that the dismissal plan threatens all workers since it does not meet the legal requirements necessary to dismiss employees, and criticized the airline company for placing profits above safe aviation concerns.

Japan Federation of Women’s Organizations (Fudanren) President Horie Yuri said that the government should instruct JAL to fulfill its role as a company providing public transportation.

The joint struggle body also demands that not only JAL but the government be held responsible for bringing about the business failure by easing aviation regulations under U.S. pressure, and that the government correct the distorted administration of the aviation industry.

Other organizations calling for joint struggle include the National Federation of Farmers’ Movement (Nominren), the Japan Federation of Aviation Workers’ Unions (Kokuren), and the JAL Flight Crew Union and the JAL Cabin Crew Union.
- Akahata, December 21, 2010