Japan Press Weekly

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2014 July 23 - 29 [LABOR]

Labor commission’s decision regarding illegality of Osaka political belief survey finalized

A Central Labor Relations Commission decision, which condemns Osaka Mayor Hashimoto Toru for illegally conducting a political belief survey on city workers, has been finalized.

The Osaka City Assembly on July 25 at its extraordinary session rejected the city’s proposal to file a lawsuit demanding cancelation of the labor relations board’s judgment. Members of the Liberal Democratic, Komei, Democratic, and Japanese Communist parties voted against the bill.

In February 2012, the Osaka mayor required all city employees to fill out the questionnaire which included questions regarding union membership and political belief, provoking fierce criticisms.

The Osaka Labor Relations Commission in March 2013 recognized the survey as an unfair labor practice and ordered the mayor to apologize to the workers. Hashimoto appealed the decision to the Central Labor Relations Commission the following month. The central commission in June upheld the local commission’s ruling, rejecting Hashimoto’s appeal.

JCP member of the city assembly Yamanaka Tomoko in the assembly deliberation prior to the vote said that the survey infringed on constitutional rights to participate in politics, to organize, and to enjoy freedom of thought and belief. She stressed that it is essential that the mayor make an apology to the city workers’ union and promise to never attempt such act in future in accordance with the labor relations authority’s order.

After the assembly meeting, Mayor Hashimoto said to the press that he will follow the instructions of the labor relations commission.

The city workers’ union issued a statement on the same day saying that the decision will contribute to creating a working environment friendly to employees. The mayor should formally apologize to the city workers as the ruling mandates, the union stressed.

Past related articles:
> Labor Commission orders Osaka mayor to apologize to union [February 21, 2014]
> Survey on city workers’ political thoughts is unfair labor practice: labor board [March 26, 2013]
> Osaka Mayor Hashimoto conducts survey on municipal workers’ political beliefs [February 14, 2012]