Local Council Rep. Proclamations at Kick-Off Rally 2003 Spring Struggle in Full Swing (17 Feburuary 2003)

On February 7, RENGO held its "2.7 Central Rally to Declare the Start of the 2003 Spring Struggle" with 2000 members in attendance at the Tokyo Welfare Pension Culture Service Center (Tokyo Kose Nenkin Kaikan), where the Spring Struggle Declaration was adopted. Representatives from local councils, where small to mid-sized unions and local unions flock together, expressed their determinations for the struggle. In his speech, President Sasamori harshly criticized management's insistence that 'base pay raises are out of question and wage cuts are natural.' He called on attendees to work on three major issues RENGO-wide: 1) maintain wage curves, 2) abolish unpaid overtime and limit overtime, and 3) improve treatment of part-time workers and others unprotected by labor unions. Photo: Rally under the slogan "We've Had It! Overcome the Living Standard & Employment Crisis through Economic Recovery!" (February 7, Tokyo) Sasamori spoke on behalf of organizers saying, "We will develop a decisive struggle against management's notion that wage cuts are inevitable." Continuing, he stressed that "unions with wage curve systems should hang on to them until the very end of negotiations. How do we spread these repercussions to those unorganized workers without a wage curve system?" Expressing his strong determination to maintain and secure wage curves he warned, "We must not fall back on this matter." Raising another issue, he explained that "we have a problem with creating and expanding employment on the labor side. We know that more than 1.5 million new jobs could be created if we could abolish unpaid overtime." He asked to strengthen activities that would abolish unpaid overtime, limit overtime work, and improve the treatment of part-time and other workers. Further, he asked "how can we solve this situation that has pushed so many workers to joblessness? And how will the labor conditions for workers be corrected while we break through such trying circumstances? It is no overstatement to say that the livelihoods of all citizens depend on the outcome of this Spring Struggle." He then appealed to restrain unemployment and relieve the jobless asking that, "when negotiating individually, I want you to remember the spirit of mutual worker cooperation." Recognizing the current 156th ordinary Diet session he said, "the current session is truly crucial since both the future of Japan (national security) and the security of its citizens' living standards hinge on its outcome." Some of the key issues include individuals shouldering 30% of medical costs, revision of the Employment Insurance and Labor Standard Laws, emergency defense bills, and the Personal Information Protection bill. He appealed for a revision of the 2003 FY budget aiming at economic recovery and the elimination of anxiety over living standards. At the same time, he especially criticized the government over its inability to secure its citizens' living standards by saying, "what the government has been submitting are only forcing pain onto all of its citizens and workers." Following that, local council representatives from nine regional blocs each spoke from the stage. They expressed their resolutions as "along with the idea of what will happen if we don't cheer up? I want to take today's enthusiasm back home with us." "We see these severe conditions as a chance to demonstrate our self-independence and will make every effort to bravely work toward a resolution of the issues." The unions demanding pay hikes growl, "we will fight for answers guaranteeing the full amount of our demands!" A person who has been a part-time worker for the last ten years explained the situation, "although the company has an union, it doesn't accept part-time workers. This is the current situation. We want labor unions to allow many of our fellow workers to join its union movements." Pushing for early organization of part-time workers he said, "This movement reaffirms that from the point of presenting the labor force, part-time workers are no different from regular workers and are a strong workforce for businesses." Upon hearing this, General Secretary Kusano stated that "RENGO headquarters will earnestly heed these voices and proceed undaunted with future activities. I ask all of our affiliated organizations for their further cooperation with RENGO." He then proposed a draft of the Spring Struggle Kick-off Declaration, which was adopted with unanimous applause. Finally, the rally concluded with the customary three-part cheer led by RENGO Tokyo President Igusa.

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