On March 30th at Hibiya in Tokyo RENGO held its Central Pep Rally for Encouraging Settlements. The 3,800 participants at the rally pledged to encourage unsettled unions and small to mid-sized unions to settle and to develop nationwide furious mass actions to realize victory in the House of Councilors election and a change of administration. After the rally, the demonstration paraded through Ginza appealing to citizens to bring down the ruling coalition.

Photo:Demonstration proceeds down Ginza's Main Street

From the outset, RENGO Secretary General Sasamori stood before the 3800 attendees asking them to prepare for a tenacious battle saying, "let the results, which the leading group only barely won through tough negotiations, extend to negotiations by the following unsettled unions and public sector unions." He also displayed a strong desire for labor conditions such as shorter working hours, extending employment in connected to raising the retirement benefits age, and progress in improving working conditions for part time workers. Further, he stated that "toppling the ruling coalition is the best economic/employment measure" and made clear his thoughts to develop anti-LDP movements in each area throughout the country for the July House of Councilors election.

Showing their resolve were Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Naoto Kan, Social Democratic Party legislator (House of Representatives) Fumihiko Himori, and Liberal Party legislator (House of Representatives) Yoshio Suzuki, Small to Mid-sized Unions Joint Struggle Center Representative Mitsuro Hattori (Japanese Association of Metal, Machinery and Manufacturing Workers [JAM] Chairman) and Public Sector Representative Masayuki Ishikawa (Japan Postal Workers' Union [ZENTEI] Chairman).
In the resolution Hattori stated, "although conditions such as polarization are growing severe, let our fight extend its influence to unorganized workplaces to seek achievement of a soon to be created 'Minimum Agreement Standard.' " Ishikawa stated, "we will continue to fight, intensifying our links with unions in the private sector, looking forward to realization of our demands such as establishment of the Three Fundamental Working Rights (to collectively organize, bargain, and act) and victory in the coming House of Councilors election." Representatives of eight local RENGO from the RENGO Kanto regional bloc also made their appeals, "the critical point for small to mid-sized unions has just begun. Let us fight on to the end."
Finally, the "appeal" was adopted and SG Sasamori led the crowd in a hardy "let's unite and fight" to end the meeting. Afterwards, the demonstration made its way down the main streets of Ginza.

Before this rally, RENGO declared the "Small to Mid-sized Labor Unions Central Action Day" and submitted demands which incorporates the correction of differentials in working conditions, the shortening of working hours, stabilization and securing of jobs to each government ministries and agencies as well as employers' organizations. Moreover RENGO developed campaigns at Tokyo area train stations and appealed to citizens for the need for job stability and a change in administration.