Japan Press Weekly

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2015 December 16 - 22 TOP3 [LABOR]

Union wins JAL’s decision to offer regular employment to all of its contracted FAs

Japan Airlines on December 15 notified the JAL Cabin Crew Union (CCU) that the company will offer regular employment to all of its contracted flight attendants. The union’s 20-year-long effort has borne fruit.

JAL, Japan’s flagship airline carrier, in 1995 introduced a system under which FAs are employed on one-year contracts and will be given a permanent position only after three years of service. Since then, the CCU has been opposing the system.

JAL explained to the Union that in April 2016 the company will abolish the system and convert all of its contracted FAs to regular employees. The company said FAs play a critical role in protecting the safety of passengers and providing high-quality in-flight services. This indicates that the company appears to have finally accepted the union’s argument that to provide FAs with long-term employment is essential to secure aviation safety.

In addition to the effort to abolish the contract system, CCU has been working to protect contracted FAs’ human rights by fighting court battles against JAL over various issues, including power harassment and unfair termination of contracts.

CCU Chair Furukawa Asako said, “We have been demanding regular employment for all contracted FAs. JAL’s announcement proves that our demand is not only rational but legitimate. I hope that it will help resolve labor disputes involving non-regular workers across the country.”


Past related articles:
> FA sues JAL for ‘maternity harassment’ [June 17, 2015]
> Union urges JAL to offer full-time position to CA [September 4, 2013]