Japan Press Weekly

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2021 November 3 - 9 [LABOR]

Union members request court to nullify Udon-noodle soup chain’s dissolution

The National Union of General Workers (Zenkoku-Ippan) and five of its members on November 2 filed with the Tokyo District Court a lawsuit against a Tokyo subsidiary of the Osaka-based Japanese noodle restaurant chain “Mimiu”, urging the court to declare the firm’s dissolution void.

The subsidiary, Tokyo Mimiu, in May 2020 closed its six restaurants in the Tokyo metropolitan region and dismissed 200 employees under the pretext of financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus outbreak. The company then decided on its liquidation in a shareholders’ meeting.

After the filing, at a press conference held in the Labor Ministry office building, the plaintiffs referred to a labor-management agreement concluded when the Zenkoku-Ippan local was organized. They explained that the agreement requires the company to negotiate with the union to gain union consent when dealing with issues such as layoffs and corporate dissolution. Pointing out that there was no prior negotiation, the plaintiffs argue that Tokyo Mimiu’s dissolution should be declared void.

A male plaintiff said that he hopes that this court battle will uncover the whole truth behind the company’s liquidation decision and may bring about a positive impact on another court battle against the company’s unfair dismissal of workers.

Past related articles:
> Union members sue Udon-noodle soup chain, seeking withdrawal of unfair dismissals [July 15, 2020]
> Union stands up against unfair dismissals by Udon-noodle chain under pretext of corona crisis [May 29]