Japan Press Weekly

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2021 April 14 - 20 [LABOR]

Cinema and theatrical workers’ union begins legal action against union member’s unfair dismissal

The Federation of Cinema and Theatrical Workers’ Unions (Eien-Roren) on April 19 filed with the Tokyo Metropolitan Labor Relations Commission a request for the withdrawal of a male union member’s unfair dismissal as it constitutes a blatant act of union-bashing.

The man in his 50s is a theater lighting technician and works as a non-regular worker under a one-year renewable contract at Pacific Art Center Inc. (PAC), a company providing operational management services to 50 performing arts facilities which include the well-known Japanese traditional performing arts facility, Kabukiza Theater. He also heads the Eien-roren PAC branch.

In July 2020 in a collective bargaining session, the man, as the union head, requested the company to supply protective equipment to all workers who work at dangerous height. In November of that year, his request was rejected. However, one month after the company dismissed the union’s demand, an accident occurred at a theater in Chiba Prefecture in which a worker fell and was injured.

Following the accident, the man filed with a local labor standards inspection office a request for an investigation regarding the company’s alleged violation of the Industrial Safety and Health Law. He also informed a national federation of theater engineers about the accident.

In February 2021, he was notified by the company that his contract will be terminated at the end of March on the grounds that he leaked information regarding the accident.