Japan Press Weekly

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2013 February 6 - 12 [LABOR]

Isuzu sues workers for refusing to leave dormitory

Isuzu Motors has filed a lawsuit against employees who had sued the company for dismissing them unfairly, demanding that the workers vacate its dormitory.

These workers are three union members of Isuzu Motors branch of the All-Japan Metal and Information Machinery Workers’ Unions (JMIU). The company also insists that the employees pay “rent” for continuing to occupy the premises following their dismissals.

They had worked for years as fixed-term employees by renewing a short-term contract repeatedly. At the end of 2008, the auto maker unilaterally notified its contingent workers, including the three, of their dismissals before their contracts expired. Facing strong protests from the employees, the employer withdrew the dismissals. Instead, it imposed a 40% pay cut on those workers in exchange for employing them until the termination of their contracts. The firm fired the employees in April 2009 because of the expiration of their contract term. A total of 1,400 workers, who had been working as fixed-term or temporary employees for a long time, were all dismissed.

Some contingent workers, including the three, brought their case before the Tokyo District Court against the car maker, seeking the withdrawal of their dismissals as well as being awarded with full-time positions. The court ruled in April 2012 that the cut in wages was illegal but the discharge was legitimate. The plaintiffs appealed to the Tokyo High Court and the case is still being disputed.

The agreement between the union and the management states that both sides will conduct negotiations over the dormitory issue based on a judicial decision regarding the status of the plaintiffs. Union members condemn the corporation for trying to kick them out in disregard of the agreement.

Miura Yoshinori, 31, one of the plaintiffs, said, “Isuzu’s attitude treating its workers as ‘goods’ remains unchanged. I’m determined to continue to work to win the cases.”


Related past article:
> Court rejects ex-Isuzu contingent workers’ demands [April 17, 2012]
> Local residents stand up for former Isuzu contingent workers [May 30, 2012]