2003 Spring Struggle is going to start in full swing in Japan. Zenroren held its 32nd General Council Meeting on January 23 and 24 in Tokyo.
Addressing the council members, Zenroren President Kumagai Kanemichi criticized the Japanese government for putting the people another 4 trillion yen financial strain by increasing tax and destruction of social welfare, as well as the measure for bad-loan disposal proposed in the government budget plan will accelerate bankruptcies of small and medium sized entrepreneurs. Noting that business leaders are openly declaring wage cuts while major unions at large corporations are failing to demand a wage increase, Kumagai stressed that Zenroren will strengthen its effort to win a pay raise for all workers and block the adverse revisions of labor laws.
Kumagai condemned Koizumi cabinet supporting US government to attack Iraq, while international community largely criticized the war plan. He introduced Zenroren's effort to build an international trade union coalition against the war on Iraq.
Council members made remarks on current situation in its industry or local communities. The possibility for broad based coalition with various groups is expanding on certain issues such as campaign against consumption tax increase, against mal-revision of medical insurance system or for activation of local economy.
In concluding remarks, Mistuo Bannai, Secretary-General, said that the phrase "severe situation," which is often used to describe Japan's economic conditions, should rather be used to describe the Liberal Democratic Party and business circle at an impasse. Bannai called participants for further development with other unions or groups from our workplaces and local communities, as well as great success of the mass rallies against war on Iraq on January 31 and February 14 in Tokyo.
180 Council members unanimously adopted 2003 Spring Struggle policy.