On October 3, RENGO held its 38th Central Committee Meeting in a hotel in Tokyo. Members endorsed the "2003 FY Activities Plan," "2002 Fall Activity Plan to Achieve RENGO Policies/Systems," "2003 Spring Struggle Basic Plan" (draft), and adopted the "Special Resolution for Economic / Employment Improvement" seeking governmental policy changes. President Sasamori stated in his speech that circumstances surrounding the current economy and employment have reached a "state of emergency." He clearly stated that "defending jobs is the trade union's greatest lifeline. We want to specialize RENGO movements to 'solve employment issues.'" He declared with determination that RENGO will develop labor movements under the slogan of 'strength and action' in order to break out of this 'state of emergency' in full force.

 

Photo: President Sasamori says, "we want you to specialize movements that focus on job issues."

Approximately 300 committee members (including other audience members) gathered for the Central Committee. President Sasamori started the meeting off by delivering an address in which he said, "the situation during this past year since my inauguration as President has been one of deterioration. This is a state of emergency." Furthermore, as "protecting employment is the greatest lifeline for labor unions, now is the time to specialize RENGO movements to solve job issues."
Sasamori severely criticized the Koizumi administration saying, "the reshuffled Cabinet is an administration which admits no responsibility for the economy unless it changes its policy that 'economic recovery cannot be attained without carrying out structural reform.'" He unequivocally stated RENGO's position to push for government policy change stating, "we must make Prime Minister Koizumi change his slogan."
Sasamori further pointed out that it was unavoidable that employment problems would intensify so long as the Koizumi Cabinet continued to promise to accelerate disposal of bad loans. Stressing that "we definitely want the government to prepare safety-net for bankruptcy and loosing jobs," Sasamori stated that "RENGO will demand a substantial supplementary budget" to improve employment and the economy at the extra ordinary Diet session in fall.
In addition, Sasamori asked for cooperation with the administration and businesses saying, "we need government, labor, and business to each play their role in accumulated efforts for social consensus-building. Without each of the three returning to their own starting lines and working hard together by joining forces, Japan has no chance for survival." He then declared a resolution for solving employment issues where RENGO will "thoroughly develop labor movements according to our recognition of this state of emergency" under the slogan of 'power and action.'

Other agendas endorsed at the meeting included the "2003 FY Activities Plan," "2002 Fall Activity Plan to Achieve RENGO Policies/Systems," "2003 Spring Struggle Basic Plan" (draft), selection of officials, and the distribution of awards.
Central Committee Meeting members raised ideas and requests for issues regarding responses to Special Structural Reform Districts, enforcement measures for unemployment youth, the role of local RENGO, Civil Servant System reform, Spring Struggle activities, RENGO's political relations including the last Democratic Party of Japan Presidential elections.
Touching on politics, RENGO President Sasamori said, "I would like to adopt a stance of no-commitment/no-comment on the Democratic Party of Japan presidential election and its resulting personnel issues." He added, "I will focus on labor movements now given the gravity of the current situation [but] want to take those ideas and requests to the meeting with DPJ President Hatoyama on October 4 and adopt a hard line."
The "Special Resolution for Economic / Employment Improvement" was adopted urging the government to adopt aggressive measures for jobs and for deflation to revive consumption, and the Seigo Yamada Honor Society awards were presented at the committee meeting.