Photo: Approx. 400 participants filled the venue.

Photo: Opinions are actively exchanged at the panel discussions.

On February 22, RENGO held a part-time workers rally at Sohyo Kaikan Hall in Chiyoda, Tokyo. RENGO has been presenting wage raises for part-time workers as one of its Spring Struggle principles since last year. The rally consisted of two segments: the first included a meeting by officials in charge of part-time work, and the second was a panel discussion open to the general public. There was an active exchange of opinions for the purpose of achieving equal wages for equal labor.

General Secretary Kusano gave an address early in the rally for the establishment of wage raises for part-time workers, improved treatment, and equal treatment, and which was attended by officials in charge of part-time work at affiliate organizations and local RENGO. Kusano said that, "current activities for part-time workers are far from sufficient. I want each industrial federation to work for activities for a minimum wage in businesses including those of part-time workers'." Following that, representatives from four organizations; JICHIRO (All-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Union), DENKI RENGO (Japanese Electrical Electronic & Information Union), ZENSEN (The Japanese Federation of Textile, Garment, Chemical, Mercantile, Food and Allied Industries Workers' Unions), and RENGO Tokyo, each reported on their activities. They disclosed their honest feelings on issues such as "the more concrete it becomes, the more difficult it becomes."
Some of the opinions presented from the floor included: "if part-time workers and permanent employees work together, we might have a different development."

The second part of the rally was a panel discussion that intended to bring together a common recognition of the issues. It had approximately 400 people including fellow part-time workers. A heated discussion ensued between panel coordinator Professor Hajime Wada of the School of Law, Nagoya University and two other panelists, Ms. Shin Sugok, a human resources development consultant, and RENGO President Sasamori.
The discussion began when Professor Wada broached issues such as "is it possible to realize equal wages for equal labor in Japan?" President Sasamori stated that amidst diversifying employment patterns, labor unions had promoted conventional labor movements that cover full-time workers, regular workers, and unionized workers, and that is one of the reasons why the unionization rate had dropped. He emphasized "we should change the nature of movements," and said that he wanted to conduct new movements leading every employed worker.
Ms. Shin responded severely criticizing him saying, "looking at RENGO's materials, all I see are 'fossils' turning to 'classics,' it is all very behind the times." She then stressed the necessity for change in labor unions saying, "there is no problem with part-time work itself. The problems are generated from the companies and organizations around it. It is crucial that the organizations themselves have the desire to change." Further, she pointed out that in order to achieve equal wages for equal labor, businesses should formulate and disclose a work flow for each job.
Among the opinions from the floor was one from a person who worked at a local sales office of Snow Brand Foods, which coincidentally, decided to formally dissolve that day. Having spent 13 years as a non-regular worker at Snow Brand Foods, this 48 year-old male worker tearfully shared his chagrin toward the company which just announced dismissals of approximately one thousand part-time workers as a labor adjustment. "We worked as well as any regular worker in both quality and quantity." Afterwards, one request after another was presented to RENGO such as "we want permanent workers to address the problems of part-time work together" and "create movements that make them obey the Labor Standard Law."

Listening to the opinions from the floor, Ms. Shin stated, "you must understand that those who can join unions are a privileged class." She appealed to union officials at the rally saying that "labor unions are the biggest NGOs and NPOs in Japan. They need a system of checks and balances of power and a basic stance that they listen to the voices of the unprivileged workers and walk together with them. Create a struggle for human rights now, not for wages."
President Sasamori expressed his opinion that "full-time workers reflect on the fact that they have rested on the sacrifices of non-regular, unorganized workers." He called to the audience saying, "if we work hand in hand with the people who have not joined our movements, we can change history. I want you to know that RENGO is making changes."
Finally, Professor Wada indicated that "there is a 'distortion' among non-regular and full-time workers." He raised future issues and closed the discussion by looking to RENGO to address the problem of how labor unions might best change this situation.