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2023 March 15 - 21 TOP3 [LABOR]

Union workers at popular sushi restaurant 'Sushiro' go on strike

"Kaitenzushi Union", a restaurant chapter of the Tokyo Metropolitan Youth Union, went on strike between March 17 and March 19 at Sushiro (the largest conveyer belt sushi chain in Japan) outlets in Tokyo and in the prefectures of Miyagi and Saitama.

The Kaitenzushi Union on the final day of the strike made representations to Sushiro establishments where union workers work, demanding a 10% hike in hourly wages.

In front of JR Tokyo Station, Sushiro workers presented the reality of working conditions at their stores, and expressed their determination to increase their efforts in the 2023 "shunto" labor-management wage bargaining negotiations to win an increase in hourly wages by 10% so that they can adequately deal with the ongoing price surge.

A 19-year-old part-time worker at a Sushiro outlet in Tokyo Station's underground mall said, "Our hourly wage of 1,200 yen is nearly 200 yen lower than that of part-time workers at nearby restaurants. Due to a staff shortage, we are always very busy."

A 20-year-old part-time worker at a Saitama outlet said, "Sushiro recently had a 10% discount sale, making us extremely busy with work. I want the company to pay us 10% more in wages."

Youth Union Chair Harada Niki said, "Many non-regular workers are struggling to make a living because of rising prices. They need much higher wages."