Japan Press Weekly

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2021 July 28 - August 3 [LABOR]

Osaka City's refusal to hold talks with city workers' union ruled unfair labor practice

The Osaka District Court on July 29 recognized that the Osaka City government's act of refusing to negotiate with the Osaka City Office Workers’ Union on the issue of the location of the union office constitutes an unfair labor practice.

The court denounced the city's act for "downplaying the workers' union" and for "weakening the union". The court ruled that the rejection to hold talks is unfair control over the union in violation of the Labor Union Act.

After the court decision, Union Chair Iwaki Kazue held a press conference in the Osaka City government office. She said, "I'm encouraged by this decision and I hope the city government will swiftly agree to hold collective bargaining negotiations with us and not appeal the lower court decision to a higher court."

The Osaka City government provided a room for the union office for about 20 years based on the promise that the union could continue to use the room as its office. However, in 2012, then City Mayor Hashimoto Toru forced the union out of the city hall. Since then, the city has continued to refuse requests for collective negotiations with the union. In 2014, the Osaka Labor Relations Commission ordered the city government to respond to the union's request to hold talks. However, in 2019, then City Mayor Yoshimura Hirofumi filed a lawsuit with the district court to seek nullification of the order.

Past related article:
> Central labor commission condemns anti-union practice by Osaka City mayor
[November 27, 2015]
> Labor Commission orders Osaka mayor to apologize to union [February 21, 2014]