Original source: Japan Press Weekly

Union workers on January 14 declared the start of a series of annual wage hike actions, the 2011 Spring Struggle, in front of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) building in Tokyo. Their slogan, “Use excessive corporate internal reserves for wage increases and job creation!” resounded through Tokyo’s business district.

Union workers on January 14 declared the start of a series of annual wage hike actions, the 2011 Spring Struggle, in front of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) building in Tokyo. Their slogan, “Use excessive corporate internal reserves for wage increases and job creation!” resounded through Tokyo’s business district.

The People’s Spring Struggle Joint Committee, consisting of independent unions and Japan Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren)-affiliated unions, is demanding an increase in hourly wages by more than 100 yen and in monthly pay by more than 10,000 yen.

On behalf of the organizers, Zenroren President Daikoku Sakuji spoke in front of the Keidanren building and reported that a growing proportion of the general public has now become aware of the need to utilize a part of the corporate internal reserves of 244 trillion yen to raise wages.

Daikoku called on union workers to demand a wage increase and defend job security as a means to expand domestic demand and shouted, “Let us recover our economy! Let us boost the Spring Struggle to defend our livlihoods!”

Chair of the Japan Federation of Aviation Workers Unions Chikamura Kazuya criticized Japan Airlines for having unreasonably dismissed targeted JAL crewmembers. He expressed his determination to do his best to achieve a withdrawal of their dismissals and to create a society in which everyone can continue to work without anxiety.

President of the Japanese Federation of Co-op Labor Unions Kuwata Tomio called for an increase in the present minimum hourly wages at least to 1,000 yen.

Secretary General of the Japan Federation of Prefectural and Municipal Workers’ Unions (Jichiroren) Saruhashi Hitoshi stated, “Japan’s entry into the TPP free-trade pact will not only destroy the nation’s agriculture, forestry, and fisheries but also adversely affect the nation’s employment system as a whole.”

Tsuchiya Satomi, who was a contingent worker at Nissan Motors and is now fighting in court against the carmaker to demand that her dismissal be retracted, said “Large corporations should be held responsible for providing job security and protecting local economies.”