Japan Press Weekly

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2014 September 10 - 16 [LABOR]

Court rules Osaka Mayor’s attack on trade unions illegal

The Osaka District Court on September 10 ruled that Osaka Mayor Hashimoto Toru illegally ordered two city workers’ unions to vacate their offices at the city government building.

Osaka City in February 2012 unilaterally refused the use of space in the city government building to the two unions. On the following month, these unions filed a lawsuit with the district court seeking the continued use of the space for union activities.

The two unions, the Osaka city government workers’ union and the Osaka City federation of trade unions, are members of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren).

The court rejected the city’s argument that the unions are illegally engaging in political activities inside the city building and that there is insufficient space in the building.

Pointing out that the city mayor had the apparent intention to limit workers’ right to organize, the ruling determined his act to be illegal. It ordered Mayor Hashimoto to give the unions approval to have their office in the government building and to pay 330,000 yen in compensation for damages.

At a press conference after the ruling, Takemura Hiroko, chair of the Osaka city government workers’ union, said, “The court accepts almost all of our claims.” She urged the mayor to abide by the ruling and work to build a sound labor-management relationship.

Past related article:
> Labor Commission orders Osaka mayor to apologize to union [February 21, 2014]