Japan Press Weekly

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2012 December 5 - 11 [ELECTION]

More Rengo members distrust DPJ

Distrust in the Democratic Party of Japan is increasing among members of unions under the umbrella of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo), the DPJ’s biggest support organization.

On November 15, the day before the dissolution of the Lower House, Rengo President Koga Nobuaki concluded a policy agreement with Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko and announced that Rengo “will make the utmost effort during the election campaign for the DPJ to maintain its control of government.”

According to a survey of the Rengo-affiliated Japan Federation of Basic Industry Workers’ Unions, members who expressed their support for the DPJ decreased to 24.4% from 37.5% in the previous survey conducted in 2009. The rate was 17.9% among union members who have never had union official positions.

Cracks in the Rengo-DPJ relationship are visible in Aichi Prefecture, where the DPJ won in all 15 single-seat constituencies in the 2009 general election.

In Aichi’s election district No.11 that covers Toyota City, where Toyota Motor is based, an increasing number of Rengo-affiliated unions complain about Rengo’s decision to support a DPJ candidate, who is a former member of Toyota’s union.