Japan Press Weekly

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2012 April 4 - 10 [LABOR]

Dismissed workers demand regular employment

Dismissed temporary workers on April 4 held a protest demanding the retraction of their dismissals in front of the head office of Nissan Motor Co. in Yokohama City.

About 30 workers and their supporters took part in the action. These workers were dismissed by either Nissan or Isuzu Motor Co. after the sudden termination of their contracts which had been renewed repeatedly. They sued both companies over their illegal dismissals.

Abe Yasushi, one of the plaintiffs, submitted his petition to the Nissan head office demanding that the company bargain collectively with the union and agree to settle the dispute.

Gonohe Toyohiro, one of the plaintiffs in the trial against Isuzu, reported on the present situation of similar cases involving temporary workers’ dismissals throughout Japan and called for further support and cooperation in their behalf. He said, “Our labor disputes are important for all workers in Japan not just temporary workers. I will fight for victory no matter what it takes.”

Miki Ryoichi, the secretary general of the All Japan Metal and Information Machinery Workers’ Union (JMIU) said, “I will continue to struggle for the realization of the plaintiffs’ demands to work to create a society in which regular employment is a matter of course.”