Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO)

Rally marks the official start of Shunto 2007(Spring Bargaining Season)

On February 2, a Central Rally was held to launch Shunto (Spring Wage Offensive) 2007 in Tokyo, declaring this year’s campaign officially open. Over 2000 trade unionists attended the rally.

On February 2, a Central Rally was held to launch Shunto (Spring Wage Offensive) 2007 in Tokyo, declaring this year’s campaign officially open. Over 2000 trade unionists attended the rally. RENGO President Takagi, in his keynote address, said “This year’s negotiations have a huge significance as they aim for recovery of household disposable income which is continuing to fall and to put a stop to the widening wealth gap which is dividing our society.” He also mentioned other challenges which must be addressed such as: reversal of the wealth distribution back to workers, correction of the present distortion in added value distribution and reducing the gaps between large and smaller companies, improving treatment of non-regular workers and increasing offers of permanent employment for them, reduction of extreme overtime hours, improvement of overtime and holiday pay, and creation of a basis for work/life balance. Takagi urged trade unionists to put every effort into this year’s negotiations as many workers have high expectations of the outcomes and if they are disappointed, they may lose faith in the labour movement as a whole. The president’s speech was followed by speeches from RENGO affiliates and a representative of part-time workers who commented: “Part-time workers also take pride in their work and their workplaces. Equal treatment is our basic right. We are fighting alongside our full-time brothers and sisters.” The Deputy Chairs of the Part-time Worker’s Forum and the Small-to medium-sized Company Committee also made the following appeals: “Part-time worker’s wages are half those of regular employees, nowhere near a living wage. It is essential for part time workers to fight for improvement in conditions and to fully understand the meaning of slogans such as ‘minimum hourly wage of 1000 yen for all!’” “We want to ensure a wage equivalent to the wage curve for more than half of the unions which belong to the Small-to medium-sized Company Forum. We will fight to the finish with the strong conviction that we must achieve this goal this year.”Finally RENGO General Secretary Koga explained the struggle plan and all unions re-affirmed the importance of the ‘minimum campaign challenges.’ Koga urged trade unionists to “muster all our collective strength for this Shunto Campaign and to reverse the management that pursues only short-term profits and the politics that pursues unbridled market rule.” The Shunto campaign statement was then adopted, bringing the rally to a conclusion.

Appeal from part-time workers	General Secretary Koga explains the Struggle Plan