Japan Press Weekly

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2017 March 15 - 21 [LABOR]

JAL decides to stop discrimination against pregnant FAs on job assignments

A Japan Airlines union on March 19, after engaging in tenacious negotiations with the national flag carrier, succeeded in pushing the company to lift the order given to pregnant flight attendants to stay home without pay by rejecting their request for light duty assignments.

In this year’s spring labor offensive (Shunto), the Japan Airlines Cabin Crew Union (CCU) demanded fair treatment for workers who become pregnant and received the following response from management: JAL will assign all crewmembers who wish to continue to work during their pregnancy to light ground duty.

Most FAs at present cannot assume ground duty during pregnancy and are ordered to take a temporary leave of absence without pay. Those who live in a company dormitory have to vacate their room.

From now on, they will work for five hours a day as ground staff. However, the CCU says it will further demand improvements so that pregnant FAs can choose between working full-time shifts of eight hours and part-time shifts of five hours.

CCU member Jin’no Tomoko became pregnant in August 2014 and applied for ground duty, but the company ordered her to stay at home. Jin’no in June 2015 filed a lawsuit against JAL with the Tokyo District Court. Last year, she returned to her job after her unpaid maternity leave period expired. Pregnant now with her second child, she works on the ground supporting pilots.

Akahata made an inquiry to JAL asking if the carrier will give up on the lawsuit and settle with Jin’no. The person in charge, however, said, “No comment.”

Past related article:
> FA sues JAL for ‘maternity harassment’ [June 17, 2015]