Japan Press Weekly

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2012 April 11 - 17 [LABOR]

Court rejects ex-Isuzu contingent workers’ demands

The Tokyo District Court on April 16 rejected 12 former non-regular workers’ demand seeking full-time positions at Isuzu Motors Limited. The plaintiffs will appeal to a higher court.

Isuzu at the end of 2008 announced that it will terminate contracts before they were due to expire for all 1,400 fixed-term contract and agency workers, and 12 workers joined the All-Japan Metal and Information Machinery Workers’ Union (JMIU) and demanded retraction of their dismissals.

The auto maker later withdrew the dismissals of fixed-term contract workers but forced them to accept an early retirement offer. Four of the 12 JMIU members on fixed-term contracts who refused to accept the offer were dismissed in April 2009.

The 12 laid-off workers filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court claiming that the company must retract their lay-offs and pay compensation for damages.

In the lawsuit, Isuzu argued that the dismissal of the plaintiffs due to a decline in business orders and the resultant change in the production plan was valid. The court not only supported the company’s argument but also denied the plaintiffs’ demand for compensation.

After the ruling, plaintiff Matsumoto Hirotoshi expressed his determination to continue struggling in court by saying, “I have the same opinion I had on the day when we were informed of our dismissal. I can’t accept the ruling. We will continue our struggle till we win.”

Another plaintiff, Sato Yoshinori, referred to the recent court rulings pertaining to labor disputes enabling employers to fire contingent workers whenever they want, and said, “I will brave the adverse conditions to fight for our victory.”