| Convention Declaration |
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It has been fourteen years since the Japanese Labor Movement joined together in one mind in order to form RENGO. Treading the path under the slogan of “Make Way for Peace and Happiness” has by no means been an easy task. What has been waiting for us is a long, bitter period of decline that has dragged on since the burst of the bubble economy. Businesses know no end in their competition to cut costs and downsize, bankruptcies and closedown have occurred one after another, and the government’s “structural reform” has doggedly been pursuing market omnipotence. Even our workplaces and the framework supporting the safety and security of our lifestyles have been shaken to its foundation because of this. Also, RENGO’s organizational membership has been reduced by one million. The “comfort/affluence/social fairness” that we have been seeking is growing ever more distant. For those of us who have continued to fight in this strict reality, the RENGO Evaluatory Committee proposed that we “redefine the fundamental nature of labor unions from the primary concept of ‘working’ and become a source of support for all workers.” We have taken that message to heart. And over these two days we have seriously debated new movement policy proposals and by the collective will of our members pledged to surely implement them. Breaking through our inner wall ourselves and standing by our original movement point that “together we fight for those who are vulnerable” we hereby declare that we will do our best to make securing jobs and livelihoods the highest priority issue while expanding our organization. Through the process of bringing this about, we will reconsider working and living practices, realize equal treatment for part-time workers, and promote equal participation by men and women. We will also strengthen small to mid-sized business labor movements, deepen our cooperation with NPOs and citizens, and lead in the advancement of the national movement. With the slogan “No More Unemployed, Jobs for People Who Want to Work,” we will consolidate all of our power to solve the job issue. We will work to realize policies for the people’s “security, stability, and safety,” including pension reform, establishment of work rules, and public servant system reform. To do that, we will use all of our power for victory in the national elections as we endorsed in a special resolution. The wellspring of the labor movement is a heart full of mutual helpfulness and sharing. Let’s revive ‘solidarity’ in the workplaces and locally. Let us make an International Confederation of Free Trade Unions World Congress, which will be held in Japan for the first time next year, successful, deepen global solidarity with our fellow workers internationally, and strive to realize a peaceful and fair world. Unions will change, unions will change society. Aim high with deep insight, move forward decisively, and let the new labor movement policies be our guide. |
October 3, 2003 The 8th RENGO Regular Convention |
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