Japan Press Weekly

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2007 February 28 - March 6 [LABOR]

Union established at Livedoor Co.

The Young Contingent Workers’ Union consisting of individual workers on March 2 announced that it established the Livedoor Union (membership undisclosed) at Livedoor Co. that runs Internet-related businesses.

Livedoor Union member Tokunaga Yusuke said, “The company is hastily conducting a restructuring of its business. Since there was no workers’ union, we have had no other choice than to accept sudden dismissals. This union is essential for us to work without anxieties.”

In January, Livedoor decided to close its own news reporting division and notified more than twenty reporters of their dismissals. These reporters joined the Young Contingent Workers’ Union and requested the company to enter into collective bargaining with them.

Young Contingent Workers’ Union Secretary General Kawazoe Makoto said that the union demands the withdrawal of their dismissals.

Referring to Livedoor’s scandal in which company founder Horie Takafumi was arrested, Kawazoe said, “It is impermissible for the company to shift the responsibility of mismanagement to employees. Since the reasons for the deficit in company accounts are unclear, the company cannot justify the closing down of the news reporting division. This union will urge the company to fulfill its social responsibility.”