Activities for Part-timers Unionization/Equal Treatment Propose Discussion Materials for Guidelines and Practice (12 November 2002)

RENGO decided it would focus on the unionization of part-time and other workers at last year’s 7th Regular Convention and has since developed activities at each of its affiliated organizations and local RENGO. In order to further strengthen its activities, RENGO decided to formulate a ‘guideline to promote the unionization of part-timers and other workers’ as well as ‘judgment standard for equal treatment and methods of practice’ by February 2003. ’Materials for discussion’ were proposed for the 16th Central Executive Committee Meeting on November 8. Illustrative examples including the conformation of labor unions when unionizing, gauging irrational treatment differentials, and concrete activities were presented. After this, each organization will proceed with discussions toward the integration of opinions in December.

I.Unionization Guideline Points

[Conformation of Unionization]

(1) Have a policy for unionizing part-time workers under existing unit unions. (Unit unions play a key role in unionizing part-time workers and others.) (2) It is conceivable to form a union for part-time workers besides the existing union within the same company. (Whenever it is difficult to unionize within the existing unions.) (3) When forming a new union in an unorganized company, part-time and other workers will also be intended for inclusion in the formation process. (4) Affiliated organizations will build a system that allows individuals to join. (This is desirable to allow workers in industries to join unions individually.) (5) It is conceivable that part-time workers may unionize in regional unions where individuals can also join. (Whenever unionizing in unit unions or affiliated organizations is impossible.)

II.Judgement Standards for Equal Treatment and Processes of Practice (Materials for Discussion)

[Purpose of the Study]

- Our Target Society   1. A welfare society centered around labor (“RENGO Vision for the 21st Century”) 2. A gender equal society (“RENGO Vision for the 21st Century,” Basic Law for a Gender-equal Society) 3. A society where all people are guaranteed security (“RENGO Social Security Vision”) - The State of Part-time Labor and Prerequisites which should be Prepared for Improvement   Treat part-time work positively as a way of working where workers can choose independently from other options.   > It is necessary to build a society/system where even part-time work can earn a livelihood. > The bedrock of such a system would establish ‘principles of equal treatment’ that guarantee equal treatment for regular employee/part-time workers where similar work is performed. > Create a society where part-time workers can also be supporters of systems such as social security. - Concepts of Equal Treatment   The bedrock of the Labor Standard Law, Article 3—Equal Treatment—and Article 4—Principles of Equal Wages for Men and Women—are “recognizable ideas of equal treatment that people should be treated equally for their labor. It should be considered a universal principle of civil law which finds equality in personal value.” (Verdict on Maruko Horn Case, a landmark judgement on wage differential corrections for part-time workers. Nagano District Court Ueda Branch Office, March 15, 1996) - Activities for ‘Equal Treatment’ are Pressing Issues   There are clear differentials in treatment between part-time workers and full-time regular workers for similar work, many of which create dissatisfaction for part-time workers.   > Part-time workers have not been convinced about the treatment differentials. > Explanations for reasons of differentials in treatment have been sought at disputes between labor and management. It is a pressing issue to clarify the “logical reasons” for differential treatments (when there are no logical reasons, differences in treatment should be eradicated) between individual labor-management.

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