Japan Press Weekly

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2007 November 21 - 27 [LABOR]

Cabin attendants sue JAL and its largest union for secretly collecting their personal data

The Japan Airlines Cabin Crew Union (CCU) and its 194 members on November 26 filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court against Japan Airlines International Co., Ltd. and its largest union demanding 48 million yen in compensation for seriously infringing on their rights by secretly collecting their personal data.

It has already been revealed that Japan Airlines and the JALFIO, JAL’s main union, for a long period of time, jointly collected personal information on 9,862 cabin crew members including their names, addresses, ideology, beliefs, family situations, medial histories, and job performances. It is said that the number of categories of information reached 158.

The company and the main union admitted that they have produced such a confidential file, but have attempted to put an end to the matter by punishing a few employees.

The CCU asserts that secretly collecting such personal information constitutes an infringement on personal rights as well as an unfair labor practice aimed at weakening the CCU in violation of the right of association.

The CCU in its statement stated that the company and the JALFIO have not only infringed on human rights but have also seriously undermined cabin attendants’ relationships and teamwork skills that serve as the prerequisite for the safety of air transportation. The union expressed its determination “to uncover the truth of the matter and revive democracy in workplaces for the sake of securing aviation safety at JAL.”

A cabin attendant who has worked for JAL for 21 years said, “I was shocked to see in the file my private information that was apparently passed on by my superior I work with in the same group. Teamwork is most important in our workplaces. I want to eradicate such illegal activities undermining mutual trust among employees from JAL and JALFIO.” - Akahata, November 27, 2007