Japan Press Weekly

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2023 July 19 - 25 [LABOR]

Iroren decides to join Global Nurses United

The Japan Federation of Medical Workers' Unions (Iroren) on July 20 ended its 3-day regular convention held in Tokyo after confirming the intent to join the global federation of nurses and healthcare workers unions, Global Nurses United.

The convention adopted a statement declaring that Iroren will work hard to push the government to raise the amount of the state remuneration paid to institutions providing healthcare, nursing-care, and disability services in order to win an increase in wages and an increase in the number of medical workers in these sectors.

The convention adopted an action program for the next year which aims to achieve goals such as the introduction of a rule that limits the number of night shifts per month, and elected a new leadership, including re-electing chair Sasaki Etsuko and re-electing secretary general Morita Susumu.

In a discussion session on the second day of the convention, delegates from across Japan reported on their activities and experiences.

A delegate of the Japan National Hospital Workers' Union (Zen-iro) talked about a nationwide strike which the union staged for the first time in 31 years to appeal for the need to hire more staff. A delegate from Aomori Prefecture reported on a successful strike that led to basic wage hikes for the first time in 22 years and an increase in seasonal bonuses. A delegate from Niigata Prefecture reported that Iroren activists at a hospital in the prefecture engaged in strikes during this year’s spring wage offensive and achieved higher summer bonuses for all hospital workers.

On the first day of the convention, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Kurabayashi Akiko delivered speech in solidarity.

Past related article:
> National hospital workers walk out at 140 facilities nationwide [March 10, 2023]