Japan Press Weekly

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2014 July 9 - 15 [LABOR]

Court recognizes action by Japan Post as unfair labor practice

The Hiroshima District Court on July 10 recognized that Japan Post unfairly transferred a union member to another workplace with the aim to hamper union activities, and ordered the company to pay a total of 3.3 million yen in compensation.

The lawsuit was filed by Yodotani Hiroya who is an executive of the Akifuchu branch of the Postal Industry Workers’ Union.

In April 2009, Yodotani was transferred from the Akifuchu post office (Hiroshima Prefecture) to the East-Hiroshima branch of Japan Post. The union activist applied for a labor relief order to the Hiroshima Labor Relations Commission and managed to return to his former office in May 2013.

The judgment rules the forced relocation as an unfair labor practice to discourage union activities because the relocation had nothing to do with business necessity.

Acknowledging that Yodotani suffered mental anguish when his union activity was obstructed, the court approved his claim for compensation.

In the ruling, Japan Post received another order to provide compensation to the union because the forced transfer was used as a threat to other workers that active union members will face a transfer order.