Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2015 March 18 - 24 [LABOR]

JCP Tatsumi: Gov’t should make efforts for reinstatement of ex-JAL flight crew

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Tatsumi Kotaro on March 19 urged the government to encourage Japan Airlines struggling with flight crew shortages to reemploy its dismissed workers.

Japan’s flag-carrier at the end of 2010 pushed ahead with its dismissal of 165 veteran pilots and cabin attendants under the pretext of corporate rehabilitation even though it had already achieved the target figures in its dismissal plan.

At a House Budget Committee meeting, JCP Tatsumi pointed out that the airline company’s massive dismissal has resulted in a serious staff shortage and the imposition of heavy workloads on remaining aircrew, which endangers safe flight operations.

The JCP lawmaker cited an on-board mishap in which a cabin attendant opened a passenger entry door without following proper procedures which are essential in ensuring passenger safety. He also noted that JAL has to even assign its flight instructors for flight duty to make up for the shortage. “Both pilots and cabin crew are feeling overwhelmed with the added responsibilities,” Tatsumi pointed out.

Transport Minister Ota Akihiro replied, “The ministry confirmed that JAL ensures safe operations.”

Tatsumi referred to the fact that the number of new employees that JAL hired after the dismissals and will hire this year as cabin attendants has reached 2,280. He said, “For the last few years, the company has earned 160 billion yen to 200 billion yen annually. If JAL intends to seriously address its understaffing problem, it should reinstate dismissed aircrew to their former positions.”

Ota and Labor Minister Shiozaki Yasuhisa responded with irresponsible comments, saying, “That’s up to the discretion of the company.”

The JCP councilor brought up the ILO recommendation calling on JAL to hold labor-management talks in regard to the reinstatement of laid-off workers. Noting that JAL said that it will act on the ILO recommendation if requested by the government, Tatsumi urged the government to make efforts to encourage negotiations between JAL and dismissed workers and their unions.


Past related articles:
> ILO requests gov’t to encourage JAL to negotiate with unions [June 29, 2012]
> JAL suffers from staff shortage and on-board mishaps [June 26, 2012]
> JAL plans to hire new employees while cutting numerous jobs [April 12, 2012]