2016 July 20 - 26 [
LABOR]
JMITU holds its regular convention
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The Japan Metal, Manufacturing, Information and Telecommunication Workers’ Union (JMITU) on July 16 and 17 held its annual convention in Ito City in Shizuoka Prefecture.
In the two-day convention, delegates from across Japan reported about their struggles at workplaces.
A delegate from Fukuoka Prefecture reported about a lawsuit seeking the withdrawal of a female union member’s dismissal by the world’s leading company in industrial robotics, Yasukawa Electric Corporation. The worker suffered a unilateral termination of her re-employment contract before she turned 65 years old although the law on re-employment of retired employees requires employers to offer re-employment up to the age of 65. She fought against the company in court and reached an out-of-court settlement.
Reporting about the outcomes of this year’s spring wage talks, a Tokyo delegate said that the JMITU branch at Nippon Roll MFG. CO., LTD achieved a 10,000 yen monthly wage increase, adding up to 10 consecutive years of achievements.
A delegate of the JMITU IBM Japan branch reported that in a lawsuit over the “lock-out” dismissals of union workers, the union won a court ruling nullifying the dismissals.
Regarding court battles waged by JMITU members, discharge lawsuits over non-regular workers at Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Isuzu Motors, and Nissan Motors were also discussed.
The convention adopted a new action program focusing on a substantial minimum wage hike and the protection of jobs and rights of non-regular workers in JMITU-related workplaces. In addition, it resolved to support the joint opposition candidate for Tokyo governor, Torigoe Shuntaro.
The convention elected a new leadership led by re-elected JMITU Chair Ikuma Shigemi and new Secretary General Kasase Takashi.
Past related articles:
> Court invalidates IBM Japan’s dismissals of union workers [March 29, 2016]
> JMIU and telecommunication workers’ union form a new union [February 2, 2016]