Japan Press Weekly

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2015 June 24 - 30 [LABOR]

Court rejects claim by ex-workers at liquidated JAL subsidiary

The Tokyo High Court on June 24 unfairly rejected an appeal filed by former engineers of an aircraft maintenance subsidiary of Japan Airlines who lost their jobs at the time when JAL liquidated this company.

Izumi Seiji, the head of plaintiffs, commented after the appeal court decision that they will consider taking the case to the Supreme Court.

They have been fighting in court, seeking the revocation of their dismissals and hoping to get a new job assignment at any of JAL Group companies.

The subsidiary, Nitto Aircraft Maintenance, provided a full range of aircraft heavy maintenance services. JAL as part of its restructuring scheme moved the heavy maintenance sector to another JAL Group company. In March 2011, JAL dissolved Nitto Aircraft Maintenance and fired all 144 maintenance and avionics technicians at this subsidiary.

During the lower court proceedings, the existence of an internal document of the parent company came to light which shows that JAL had planned to shut down the subsidiary in an attempt to overthrow a workers’ union there. Nevertheless, the Tokyo District Court did not take into consideration JAL’s responsibility as the parent company.

Past related articles:
> Former JAL subsidiary workers launch court battle to win back jobs [March 15, 2012]
> Ex-mechanics of JAL aircraft want to work again [May 16, 2012]
> JAL subsidiaries forced to cut workforce and even close down [February 18 & 19, 2011]