Govt. Must Take ILO Recommendation Seriously Rally for Transparent, Democratic Public Servant System Reform (17 March 2003)

On the evening of March 11, RENGO and the RENGO Public Sector Liaison Council held a rally in Tokyo’s Hibiya Amphitheater. Most of the approximately 3000 participants were from the public sector. Attendees strongly pushed the government to take the ILO Recommendation seriously and bring about transparent, democratic legislative reform of the public servant system. After the rally, participants conducted a petition demonstration on the way to the Diet that appealed for a revision of the Public Servant System Reform Guidelines and system reform based on international labor standards. Regarding the impending Iraq Crisis, demonstrators took a strong stance against the use of military force without a UN resolution. Photo: President (and RENGO Public Servant Legislation Reform Task Force Chief) Sasamori says, “A RENGO-wide effort will be made to confront this problem with invincible determination.” Representing the organizers, RENGO President (and RENGO Public Servant Legislation Reform Task Force Chief) Sasamori gave an address. In it, Sasamori said it is “a matter of vital importance whether or not [public servant system reform] can fulfill the role of being a servant to our citizens. It is crucial for us to have the government take the ILO recommendation seriously.” He expressed his determination by saying, “RENGO will tackle this issue with unwavering resolve and all of RENGO’s might.” Regarding the urgently pressing Iraq problem, he said that “Japan is a country with a rare constitution (that renounces war) and rare experience (the only nation ever to be bombed with atomic weapons). We must not allow the Japanese government either to involve itself in the superpowers’ acts of hegemony or to create policies unchecked.” Attending the rally were representatives from three opposition parties. The Democratic Party of Japan’s Public Servant System Problems Task Force Chief Tatsuo Kawabara, Social Democratic Party Vice President/Civil Servant Policy Board Special Chair Sekisuke Nakanishi, and Liberal Party’s Political Reform Bureau Director Kenji Yamaoka each gave speeches of solidarity. They all declared their determination to work together for the sake of realizing transparent and democratic civil servant system reform. Afterwards, RENGO Public Sector Task Force General Secretary Yamamoto gave a keynote address. Yamamoto touched on the government’s response, “in his remarks to the Diet, State Regulatory Reform Minister Ishihara made light of the ILO by disregarding its recommendation, intends to pass off basic public employee rights issues to a future date, and plans to revise legislation based on regulatory reform guidelines. His views are far too inconceivable to forgive.“ Calling for redoubled efforts Yamamoto said, “Let’s coordinate our protest and demand activities from the workplaces to seek a retraction from Ishihara.” Following that, representatives from ZENTEI (Japan Postal Workers’ Union), KOKKO-SOREN (Japan Central Federation of National Public Service Employees’ Unions), and TOSHIKO (The All Japan Municipal Transport Workers’ Union) declared their determination to fight on behalf of affiliated organizations. After the appeal was endorsed with unanimous applause, participants marched to the National Diet for a petition demonstration calling for establishment of basic labor rights for public workers.

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