| A fair society by correcting disparity: Rengo debates on the 1998 Spring Offensive |
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Rengo held a panel discussion on the 1998 spring offensive or Shunto on 30 and 31 October 1997 in Atami and 660 participation discussed the plan for 1998 spring offensive that would be proposed to the Rengo's Central Committee scheduled to take place on 20 November 1997. |
| President Washio spoke on the current economic situation: "We are now experiencing recession caused by an inadequate policy, namely the increase of consumption tax, the abolition of the special reduction of income tax and the deterioration of social security including medical insurance." He described Rengo's direction for the 1998 Shunto promoting the correction of disparity and social influence in the 4 major areas: wages, working hours, policy/system and labour standards. "This only can lead to the improvement of economic situation. Trade unions should get united to do away with the existing state, overcoming minor differences between the unions." |
| General Secretary Sasamori proposed the 1998 Shunto basic plan and expressed his determination that Rengo should remember its first resolution and rebuild the spring offensive, aiming at the highly sensitive trade union movement. |
Summary of the Appeal We discussed what to be done and what can be done as part of our effort for the improvement of overall living with the slogan of "Let's look to the improvement living standards and the economic revival by actualizing fair distribution and active policies." As the result of this, we have had a unified opinion about wages, working hours, policy/system and labour standards for the 1998 Shunto. |
| We should aim not only at wage hike, but also at holizontalizing the wage level by promoting the shift to individual wages in order to correct the wage disparity. Going on with the social activity synchronised with the expansion of the organisation, we should look to the role of organized workers which includes setting up the standard, raising minimum wages, and improving the working conditions of unorganized workers toward the fair distribution of social income for all working people. |
| As regards the reduction of working hours, all the affiliate should formulate the reduction working hours programme to realise 1800 working hours by the year of 2000. And Rengo should organize concrete actions to promote the working time reduction during the 1998 Shunto. |
| Rengo should continue its effort to promote the equality between men and women and to respond adequately to the employment of the age. It should look to the establishment of new work rules by promoting the labour laws revision and the expansion of collective agreements in order to tackle deregulation without a principle that has been planned by employers. |
| Rengo should take effective solidarity actions at proper timing to actualize the income tax reduction of 200 billion yen and the reform of social security system for economic revival and the improvement of living standards. |
| Rengo should strengthen the cooperation with industrial affiliate and local Rengo's in formulating struggling policies and heighten its centripetal force. In particular, it will set up the headquarters for realising the tax reduction and blocking the deregulation of labour standards and will fight wit all its energies. |
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