For a “Dependable, Accessible RENGO” Labor Movement Revitalization Debate at Summer Top Seminar (1 Aug 2003)

From July 24th to 25th, RENGO held its RENGO Summer Top Seminar at a hotel in Nagoya with 220 participants in attendance. This was the 2nd meeting of this biannual seminar for top leaders from RENGO headquarters, affiliated organizations and local RENGO. Six members from the Evaluatory Committee including Kohei Nakabo and Naohiko Jinno were present at the Seminar on the 24th where proposals for revitalization of the labor movement in accordance with the ‘Interim Report’ compiled in June were explained. The next day, RENGO officials exchanged their candid opinions on the issues and endorsed their support to start work on a time table to realize the proposals. Photo: Leaders listen attentively to the Evaluatory Committee members. (July 24, Nagoya) RENGO President Sasamori gave a speech on behalf of organizers on the first day in which he emphasized that “we want RENGO to be dependable and accessible for workers when they need it most.” He stated that he wanted the “Interim Report” to be a meaningful benchmark in the development of new labor movements and called for an active discussion in order to realize this. Evaluatory Committee Chair Nakabo followed Sasamori explaining the basic concepts of the “Interim Report.” Nakabo frankly asked the top leaders gathered there if they intended to watch the ongoing labor movement crisis from the sidelines. Firmly stressing that what was needed most now is a concrete movement to combat irrationality and resistance, he argued that it was both necessary to make a time schedule to realize this and to utilize the proposals. Vice Chairperson Jinno proposed that five reform goals be established in the “Interim Report.” Afterward, the seminar opened a general discussion with Committee members Mari Osawa, Nagaharu Hayabusa, Edith Hanson, and Michiko Yoshinaga. Some of the Evaluatory Committee members said that what labor unions needed was “strong tenderness” and “being ‘moved at heart’ in the truest sense of the word” and that these qualities formed the base of true solidarity. Further, at one point Nakabo said that “those in the trade unions are the most earnest people in society, ever kind and genuine.” He encouraged the audience by saying “if you have hope and confidence and follow the guidelines (the Interim Report), I know you will be able to climb any mountain without fail.” The following day on July 25, the top leaders participated in an exclusive discussion based on the previous day’s proposals. During the opening relay-talk, 10 RENGO Vice Presidents expressed their opinions on the theme of “The Road to Labor Movement Revitalization.” Several opinions were presented on aspects of the organizational and functional roles that company unions should fulfill with regard to the proposal ‘Departure from Company Unionism.’ A candid discussion was then held on what kind of labor movement should be established. (See the September issue of the monthly RENGO for more on the Summer Top Seminar.) After the discussion, Professor Hideo Kobayashi of the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies at Waseda University gave a lecture on ‘Future Industry Policies Considering the Hollowing-Out Problem.’ In conclusion, General Secretary Kusano declared that the time table in the proposal would be established at an early date and closed the seminar.

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