Photo: President Sasamori encourages, "don't flinch."

On the evening of March first at Meiji Park (Tokyo) RENGO opened its 2002 Spring Struggle 3.1 Central Pep Rally. Over 28,000 fellow laborers from affiliated organizations and local RENGO attended the rally where we strengthened our collective will for the upcoming Spring Struggle peak period.

President Sasamori gave a speech on behalf of the organizers encouraging the attendees saying, "in the 2002 Spring Struggle we are without a doubt forced to face the most severe battles we have experienced in our 47 year history. The only thing that will break through the current conditions is the worker's spirit to 'fight from the heart'." Further, regarding the Spring Struggle impending peak period, he said, "management says that wage standard increases are out of the question, lower wages are natural, and employment agreements are moot. But we cannot let them continue to make such pronouncements. Let's seek to turn the tables and fight as if our lives depended on it. " Sasamori then closed by turning and appealing to the attendees, "these are adverse conditions, but there has never been a this time when we needed labor unions more than now. Do not flinch, do not falter, do not fear."

Secretary General Kusano proposed the Spring Struggle to the rally. In it he evaluated the enduring negotiations by affiliated organizations in the early stage saying, "we can start to see signs of change in the management's consistent stance that regular pay raises and job retention agreements are impossible, much less wage standard increases. This is the true result of 'negotiations.'" He continued saying, "make a final push with all your energy from next week for the sake of small to mid-sized businesses, public services, non-regular, non-unionized workers."
In response, representatives from the private sector, public sector, small to mid-sized businesses, part time workers, local RENGO, and regional blocs all expressed their resolutions. Six of the representatives pledged their will to fight with all of their might to the end amidst these difficult conditions.

Further, at the rally, the Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama, Social Democratic Party Secretary General Mizuho Fukushima, Liberal Party Chairman of Diet Affairs Kenji Yamaoka also attended. They said that a change in government is the only way to eradicate an unsavory codependency among the political community, the bureaucracy and industry, as well as to conduct true structural reform on behalf of the citizens of Japan.
At the closing of the rally, Sasamori emphasized that "there is no room for retreat in this struggle. For the stability of the lives of our citizens, now is the time for labor unions to step up." Afterwards, he led the rally in a three-part cheer.