Photo: NZPSA Executives walked-in to the rally. (Shinjuku)

Social unfairness, expansion of poverty, suppression of human rights, terrorism, etc.—this is the negative side of the social influence of globalization that severely effects the lives of working people worldwide. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) declared November 9 as Global Unions Day of Action to coincide with the 4th Ministerial Conference of the WTO in Doha, Qatar. In line with this, 150 million workers under the ICFTU—and including RENGO—developed actions on a global scale that day to voice their objections to the negative impact of globalization.

RENGO held a rally that day at Shinjuku station in Tokyo. In spite of rain, approximately a hundred of people gathered from various organizations including the affiliated organizations. Participants listened to the appeals from RENGO Political Center General Secretary Suzuki and RENGO Headquarters Department of International Affairs Executive Director Nakajima.
Four people from the New Zealand Public Service Association (NZPSA) including the President, National Secretary, and others, who were visiting JICHIRO (All-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers’ Union) also walked in the rally. NZPSA National Secretary Paul Cochrane gave a speech on the current conditions of many nations and companies that only seek for profits but ignore the improvement of workers’ living standards and labor conditions.