On June 9, approximately 10,000 people from constituent organizations and non-profit organizations, including 62 diet members from each political party participated in RENGO's "Break the Employment/Living Standard Crisis/6.9 Action" in Kasumigaseki and Hibiya, the neighborhoods around the Diet. Participants urged the government to compile a supplementary budget focusing on emergency employment measures and the establishment of a reliable pension system.

Photo: Many lawmakers march and appeal to the citizens.

Photo: 10,000 people gather at Hibiya Hall to display their anger at government.

"Create One Million Jobs!" "No Dispatched Labor Law Reform!" "Hear the Workers' Voices!" were the cries that the participants all shouted as they marched in procession around the Diet for "Appeal Actions to the Diet," the first round of that day's successive actions. In a speech given before the Upper House pressroom, General Secretary Sasamori strongly stated "our action today has surrounded the Diet with workers from all walks of the public and private sector. We will not stop with today's action, but continue to fight until our demands are met." He also firmly appealed to the lawmakers from each party, who were encouraging the people in front of the Upper House, for their future cooperation.

Then, with Diet members from each party heading the procession, the march moved to Hibiya Hall for the Central Rally. President Washio before a crowd of 10,000 participants addressed the unemployment rate, which in April was 4.8% or 3.42 million people, continuing to be the highest rate on record. "The job situation has become acute." Citing government's responsibility, President Washio continued, "today's depression and employment deterioration began with the government's increasing the nation's burden by \ 9 trillion-yen in 1997 and has worsened due to the reactive manner of the government since that time." Further, he added "although enormous amounts of money have been put into it and substantial time has passed, insecurity over employment has not been solved nor have jobs been created. We are outraged by governments' ineffective response to this situation." He went on to explain that at the labor-government meeting held on the morning of the 9th he again requested the creation of more than one million jobs in the fields of welfare, education and the environment.

With regard to the Dispatched Labor Law, he told the participants "as the types of employment continue to diversify, it is crucial to establish fair labor legislation. Fair legislation cannot be maintained by faith in an 'all-powerful market.' " "We reject liberalization of a registered dispatchment system which does not guarantee employment security for dispatched workers. We will continue to fight for employment security for all the workers in the future." President Washio also broached the issue of the social security system saying, "we will push to establish a comprehensive, safe, and reliable social security system through reform of the medical care and pension systems, and nursing care insurance." Calling out to the crowd "Let's win a full and worthwhile life," he requested the cooperation of each political party.

A total of 62 diet members from each party lined up on stage at the Central Rally. Speeches by representatives from each party included: Liberal Party Leader Kan, Acting Secretary General Ohta of the New Komeito Party, Chairman Shiota of the Liberal Party Organizations Relations Committee, Social Democratic Party Secretary General Fuchikami, Chairman Nishikawa of the Reformers' Network Policy Board, and Sakigake Party Secretary General Okumura.

Finally the rally adopted the appeal "Show your Anger! Use National Class Solidarity to Break the Employment and Living Standard Crisis." After the closing of the rally, participants marched down the main streets of Ginza appealing to passersby.