On May 26th one month since the Koizumi Administration took power, RENGO held its "Breakthrough Job/Living Standard Threatening Danger! 5/26 Central Pep Rally." At the venue located in Meiji Park in Tokyo, nearly 15,000 people gathered to participate and harden their collective will toward realizing a new government with a worker's viewpoint through victory in the upcoming Tokyo Metropolitan/Lower House elections. After the rally, they conducted a demonstration march along two different courses in the city advocating the need for a change of administration to citizens.

Photo: Pres. Washio Appeals for "True Reform is a Change in Administration."
(26th, Meiji Park)

RENGO has been watching the new administration's attitude for over one month and evaluated it thusly, "we recognize their will for reform, but the direction is not what the majority of citizens wish for, it will only unilaterally intensify the pain of workers." RENGO held this rally to clarify its will to fight at the upcoming House of Councilors election aiming to realize a government that will reward workers for their efforts and to unify the resolve of its union members.
President Washio gave the opening address immediately touching upon the Koizumi administration's high approval ratings as being, "nothing more than a desire to breakthrough the sense of blockage covering this society. That is what is linked to support for a cabinet with a banner of 'reform.'" Showing strong dissatisfaction, he also harshly criticized this administration that has yet to come up with any definite job policies. "We absolutely refuse policies that unilaterally enforce pain upon the citizens while shunning their own responsibility for what caused this stagnancy." He continued saying, "to eradicate this sense of anxiety, it is necessary to change the administration and to carry out reform on behalf of the people. To do that, we want the opposition parties to appeal clearly to the people with great confidence that 'only a change of administration is true reform'," making a special request to opposition parties.

This rally was attended by Secretary General Kan of the Democratic Party of Japan, House of Representatives member Hosaka of the Social Democratic Party, and Vice Chairman of Policy Affairs Council of the Liberal Party Suzuki--all of whom pledged to work for a new opposition party--centered administration.
Following the activity reports on the 10 Million Members Mass Actions by RENGO Kyoto President Hamuro and RENGO Tokyo President Endo, RENGO Secretary General Sasamori also expressed his resolve for future struggles. In his talk he emphasized, "there is no other way to improve employment conditions except by a change in administration. Having all RENGO-endorsed candidates elected in the upcoming House of Councilors elections will keep RENGO's power of influence alive." He encouraged all the participants to cooperate with the struggles that lay ahead.