Japan Press Weekly

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2020 April 22 - May 12 [LABOR]

Limo company agrees with union to maintain employment

A taxi company union won the continuation of employment in an agreement reached on April 24 with the Royal Limousine Group. The taxi drivers standing up together against the company's unfair pressure to accept early retirement made this remarkable achievement.

The Meguro Jidosha Kotsu Union of the All-Japan Federation of Automobile Transport Workers' Unions (Jiko-soren/ATU), which is affiliated with the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), held a collective bargaining session with the Group management in cooperation with the KPU Meguro Jiko Union which is affiliated with the Tokyo Trade Union Confederation (Tokyo Rengo).

Using the coronavirus pandemic as a pretext, the Royal Limousine Group was putting pressure on about 600 drivers of the Meguro Jidosha Kotsu to accept early retirement.

In collective bargaining, President of the Group Kaneko Kensaku said that the drivers who rejected early retirement are still on the payroll, adding, "If I used the word 'dismissal' without knowing it, I will retract that." He also promised to withdraw the "early retirement agreement". He said he will resume the taxi service of Meguro Jidosha Kotsu and will reduce the number of vehicles in order to maintain drivers' employment.

Jiko-soren was demanding that the Group utilize the "government subsidy for employment adjustment" as well as the "special support measure for non-operational vehicles" so that the limo company can maintain employment while guaranteeing drivers' incomes.

Past related article:
> Tokyo-based taxi firm uses the coronavirus crisis as pretext to force 600 drivers to accept early retirement [April 12 & 16, 2020]