Japan Press Weekly

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2015 December 16 - 22 [LABOR]

ILO to JAL: negotiate with unions toward reinstating laid-off crew

The International Labor Organization (ILO) has issued the third recommendation to the Japanese government and Japan Airlines (JAL), calling upon them to hold discussions with JAL unions so that laid-off pilots and flight attendants can return to work.

The JAL Flight Crew Union (JFU), the JAL Cabin Crew Union (CCU), and a former workers’ group seeking the revocation of their dismissals jointly held a press conference in the Labor Ministry office building on December 15 to call attention to this recommendation.

Japan’s flagship air carrier has been refusing to allow the dismissed workers to return to work by using as an excuse the final court decision which approved JAL’s forcible dismissals. However, the ILO in its recommendation “underlines the importance of maintaining a meaningful dialogue between the company and the trade unions” to ensure an early settlement of the labor dispute.

The ILO sets international labor standards encouraging employers, if they successfully turn their businesses around, to rehire employees who were once laid-off due to economic reasons.

Lawyer Ushikubo Hideki noted, “Based on these standards, the ILO is calling for labor-management negotiations toward an early resolution of the dismissal issue.”

Tajimi Shin’ichi, the JFU head, said, “There is a shortage of crewmembers.” CCU Chair Furukawa Asako said, “One in three FAs are new, inexperienced recruits.” Both pointed out the necessity of bringing veteran workers back to work, adding, “To this end, our unions will do everything to realize ‘a meaningful dialogue’.”

Past related articles:
> JAL pilots’ appeal also turned down [February 7, 2015]
> Appeal against JAL’s mass layoffs of flight attendants unfairly rejected [February 6, 2015]
> International pilots group calls for JAL dismissals to be settled [October 24, 2013]
> ILO requests gov’t to encourage JAL to negotiate with unions [June 29, 2012]
> Pilots worldwide protest against court approval of JAL’s dismissal [May 10, 2012]
> Foreign labor organizations pay attention to JAL dismissal [July 26, 2011]
> JAL’s forcible dismissal violates ILO conventions [December 11 & 14, 2010]