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On February 15, RENGO took recent situations into account and decided on the 3rd Urgent Policy for the 1999 Spring Struggle at the 3rd Central Struggle Committee
The 3rd Urgent Policy
(1) How to Advance Negotiations between Labor and Management
1. Submitting Demands
Affiliated unions will increase their support primarily to registered unions to submit demands on February 19, and the whole union by the end of February. Furthermore, affiliated unions will seek to understand the circumstances for submitting demands in more detail than last year.
2. Build up a intensive settlement stance during the "Great Unbroken Critical Moment [March 17-26]"
Each affiliated union will exchange information at industrial liaison councils and step up concentrating on an intensive settlement zone. In February, they will conduct an inquiry into when the unions can expect a reply from management. RENGO will review the overall situation via the information center and announce its findings in early March.
The Small to Mid-Sized Joint Struggle Center and local RENGO will work together to beef up the local joint struggle and encourage local unions to join the intensive settlement stance. It will also aim to resolve local struggles in March utilizing Small to Mid-Sized Business Action Day among other things.
3. Appeals to Small to Mid-Sized Business Employer's Federations
On March 3, RENGO will conduct high-level meetings with the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to gain their understanding in regards to RENGO's efforts for an early settlement and the correction of differentials through an individual specific wage system.
Local RENGO will appeal to employers' federations to create standards that would improve working conditions for all working people in workplaces with no unions, and work for a minimum wage.
(2) Plans regarding Labor Legislation and Preparing Conditions for Labor Agreement.
To prevent loosening labor standards and to establish new working rules, RENGO will support efforts for a labor agreement at affiliated unions and local RENGO corresponding to the Amended Labor Standard Law and Equal Employment Opportunity Law. RENGO will also work for the revision of the Dispatched Labor Law and Employment Security Law, both of which are scheduled to be deliberated on in the current ordinary diet session.
Affiliated Unions and local RENGO will hold workshops at workplaces, and push for a collective petition for the Dispatched Labor Law Amendment by the end of March.
(3) Plans for Revising the Minimum Wage
Agreements within companies are the starting point for regulating the minimum wages of organized and non-organized workers. Affiliated unions will expand their efforts subjectively so that every union will conclude arrangements just as RENGO's Minimum Wage Subcommittee has proposed.
Local RENGO will request and influence local labor standard boards and employers' federations to revise the legal minimum wage (by region/industry) backed by plans to settle an arrangement with organized workers.
(4) Million Job Creation
RENGO will hold the 4th Government-Labor-Management Employment Promotion Council and clarify the number of jobs to be created earmarked in the 1999 fiscal year budget by each ministry and agency. RENGO will also request that the government make immediate and large scale preparations, led by the Prime Minister, to create 500,000 jobs by the middle of this year.
(5) Plans for Policies and Systems
1. Revise the 1999 Fiscal Year Budget
RENGO will ask the opposition parties to realize the following issues for the 1999 FY Budget Bill and the Tax System Amendment Bill in both the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors based on "RENGO Priority Policies."
a) ¥10 trillion tax cut and provision.
b) Comprehensive taxation.
c) Increase government liability by one half on basic pensions in the 1999 FY.
d) Bring about the Million Job Creation.
e) Drastically increase the nursing care budget and oppose free medical prescription fees for seniors.
2. Plans other than the Budget Bill
RENGO will request that opposition parties quickly approve the Freedom of Information Law in the diet, while working to improve the problems in it. By early March promotion of the Decentralization Bill, the Guideline Bill, the Basic Gender-Equal Society Bill, the Basic Food, Agriculture, and Rural Area Bill will be introduced. RENGO will shape its policies at each related committee and request that the opposition parties, and predominately the Liberal Party, pass those policies. Social Security reform issues such as pensions and medical care and the Dispatched Labor Law Amendment Bill are expected to come under budget debate after April. RENGO will work to strengthen opposition party understanding and support for RENGO policies.
(6) Appeals within and outside organizations and a concrete plan of action.
1. A Central Rally Declaring the Start of the Spring Struggle
On February 15, RENGO held the Central Rally Declaring the Start of the Spring Struggle. This started a full-scale effort with workplaces, as one united body, strengthening its resolve by backing up efforts for pay hikes, shorter working hours, employment stabilization, fair working rules and general policy and system improvement.
2. The National Rally to Break the Living Standard Crisis/Central Rally for the 1999 Spring Struggle
In the past, RENGO held pep rallies to bring the Spring Struggle to life. Now, however, rallies will be held with the participation of every level of citizenry to protect the nation's standard of living against the current crisis. The rally will be called the National Rally to Break the Living Standard Crisis/Central Rally for the 1999 Spring Struggle.
Local RENGO will conduct elaborate rallies resembling operations at the National Center. As part of an effort to garner social attention and heat up PR activities, RENGO will prepare materials (large-sized pocket tissue) in early March.
3. In addition to the advertisements already being run in various newspapers, books, and radio, RENGO will also use billboards/electric billboards from March 4 - 10 as part of a publicity campaign.
(7) Activities of the 4th Central Struggle Committee and the Expanded Tactical Committee.
Until the 4th Central Struggle Committee is held on March 11, the Expanded Tactical Committee will operate the 3rd Urgent Policy and develop definite tactics based on that policy and estimates of the situation. The Committee will also reinforce cooperation among the industrial liaison councils.
The 4th Expanded Tactic Committee will be held on February 23, the 5th on March 4, and the 6th on March 9. Further, the Tactical Subcommittee will be held on March 3 and 11.
Activity
March 6: The National Rally to Break the Living Standard Crisis/Central Rally for the 1999 Spring Struggle.
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