Strengthen Ties with Labor Unions, NGO/NPO 65,000 Attendees at 74th May Day Central Rally (8 May 2003)

On May 1, RENGO held a Festival of Workers at the 74th May Day Central Rally. Approximately 65,000 participants were spread out over the event site at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo gathered together under the themes of ‘Peace,’ ‘Human Rights,’ ‘Environment,’ ‘Labor,’ and ‘Co-existence.’ 28 organizations participated in the planning of the event including the steering committee, non-government organizations (NGO), and non profit organizations (NPO). The rally incorporated a new appeal for stronger ties with labor unions and citizen groups, issued a RENGO, NGO, and NPO joint statement at the central ceremony, and conducted “Face to Face Fiest-ivities” with about forty refreshment booths. Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Sakaguchi, Metropolitan Tokyo Vice Governor Hamauzu, Democratic Party of Japan President Kan, Social Democratic Party Leader Doi, and Liberal Party Secretary General Fujii were on hand at the central ceremony and each gave speeches. Photo: Pres. Sasamori asks participants to “become an engine to rejuvenate Japan.” (May 1, Tokyo) RENGO President Sasamori addressed a standing room only audience on behalf of the organizers. He touched on the five themes of ‘employment,’ ‘Spring Struggle,’ ‘atypical workers,’ ‘politics,’ and ‘world peace.’ Expressing his solid determination regarding the worsening job situation he said, “we will work full scale on employment risking our very existence if need be, under the slogan ‘Do not increase the number of unemployed. Jobs for people who want to work.’” He pledged to fortify atypical worker movements and issues regarding the revised bills for the Labor Standards and Worker Dispatch Laws to seek early establishment of a ‘part-time labor law’ that clearly defines fair treatment rules and radically modifies revised bills submitted at the current Diet session. Finally, he added that “in the midst of a Japanese economy confronting this critical situation, [he] keenly feel[s] that nothing is better than the human mind and power.” In closing, he called on participants “let us, as labor unions, take upon ourselves the roles of being the engine that rejuvenates the Japanese economy. Let us widen our circle of solidarity to include all the employed workers, conquer deflation, and from here today build a society where one can feel real affluence and live in peace.” Many guests from the government, bureaucracy, and political parties were in attendance at the May Day Central Ceremony. In a speech on behalf of the government, Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Sakaguchi pointed out problems between both parties saying, “there are a slew of problems that must be solved between the government and RENGO.” He said the government is being “asked to change its attitude toward labor side. The government needs to provide a blueprint of a society that places a high value on labor. We want to present a concrete plan this year.” Addressing the labor side, he said that “in order to press the government they are being asked to speak and act from global point of view so that Japan will not be left behind in the face of worldwide trends toward reform.” Tokyo Vice Governor Hamauzu delivered a message from Governor Ishihara in which he criticized the central government’s monopoly on ‘placement services’ and introduced a Tokyo Metropolitan Government plan to open ‘job centers’ in cooperation with the private sector. Representatives from each political party gave speeches of solidarity including Democratic Party of Japan President Kan, Social Democratic Party Leader Doi, and Liberal Party Secretary General Fujii. Then RENGO and the NGO/NPO organizations’ released a joint message. The message defined May Day as a ‘forum for social proposals by labor unions, NGO and NPO working together.’ They declared that “this bond represents a new type of civic/social movement for the 21st century” and offered an impassioned plea to attendees that “if RENGO, NGO, NPO, and citizens take action, together we can change society and the world.” After the May Day Declaration was adopted with unanimous applause, the rally closed with President Sasamori leading the participants in a three-part cheer.

May Day Declaration Today we held the workers’ festival, the 74th May Day Central Rally. The circumstances besetting workers today are severe. The number of corporate bankruptcies and worker dismissals due to corporate downsizing has skyrocketed in this protracted economic recession. The job situation continues to be the worst in the postwar and shows no signs of improvement. The government, however, has not tried to implement full-scale employment measures. On the contrary, it is attempting to force negative revisions of the Labor Standards and Worker Dispatch Laws, which only aggravates worker’s fears over employment and living standards all the more. Management should face up to their social responsibility to stabilize employment, maintain labor conditions, protect the environment, and establish human rights. Government should revive the economy, stabilize and create employment, and strengthen protections for workers. Meanwhile, peace and human rights are being threatened. The war in Iraq raises new questions for the international community regarding the form that international relations should take in the 21st century, especially the importance of peaceful UN-led solutions. The international community should bare responsibility for assisting the reconstruction of Iraq. The United Nations should marshal international opinion and power, peacefully and democratically supporting efforts by the Iraqi people to rebuild their nation themselves. North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and withdrawal from the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) run counter to peace and nuclear disarmament in Northeastern Asia and strain international relations. The Japanese government needs to cooperate with related countries, namely the United States, Korea, China and Russia, and expend efforts for peaceful solutions such as urging North Korea to halt nuclear weapon development. Furthermore, incidents of Japanese allegedly abducted by North Korea are an encroachment on Japanese sovereignty and on human rights. We support the demand for the return of all abductees and their families to Japan and appeal for its realization. Today, May first, is a day of international solidarity. The ICFTU, with affiliated organizations in 150 countries and 158 million members, calls on workers across the globe to stand together to eliminate poverty and hunger brought on by globalization, discrimination, oppression, disputes and terrorism, and calls on governments and employers to respect workers’ rights. Let us all answer this call! Let us work for ‘peace, human rights, the environment, labor, and co-existence’ with worker solidarity, realize a labor-centered welfare society, and build free and peaceful world! We here declare that the working people will revive Japan. Long live the 74th May Day! May 1, 2003 The 74th May Day Central Rally

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