Local unions share experiences

The 3rd Local Union Exchange Meeting was held on June 1-2 in the central Japanese city of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture.

Participants spoke about counseling services for contingent workers that led to organizing them and the struggle to expose various abuses of part-time and other contingent workers, such as the use of temporary workers disguised as individual contractors and forcing workers to work overtime without pay.

At present there are 116 local unions in 40 prefectures, with 5,877 people participating up 24 unions and 1,173 members from 2005.

YOSHIOKA Tsutomu, a temp worker who used to be employed as a “contract worker” gave a report how he joined the local union and developed the struggle for justice supported by local young workers.

A documentary video entitled “The local union is present” was shown at the meeting. Participants decided to increase their local unions with the catchphrase, “No worker should be left alone.” The video will be utilized in future efforts to organize contingent workers. (Zenroren, June 15, 2007)