“Waiting for an answer from Transport Minister” ? Nov. 26 rally for solving mass firing of railway workers

The “Nov. 26 Rally for Solving Mass Firing of Railway Workers” was held at the Seiryo Kaikan Hall from 17:30 on November 26, 2009. It was hosted by four groups for demanding a political solution of the dismissal of 1,047 former National Railway workers. The number of the dismissed members of struggle groups and their families who joined the rally reached 365, the biggest ever. Lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic Party, the People’s New Party, Komeito (Clean Government Party) and the Japanese Communist Party also participated in the rally as guests. Nihei Hisakatsu, chairperson of the Joint Struggle Congress, emphasized that a solution is nearing, saying, “We have passed our demand for the solution of the mass firing problem to the Transport Minister through a congressperson of the DPJ. It is to request the solution to be concluded by February 16, 2010 so that every dismissed former railway worker can make a living, and we have specifically informed JR (Japanese Rail) of the number of persons to be employed and the amount of the settlement. Now it is the turn of the minister to make a decision”. (M)


「国交大臣にボールは投げた」～JR不採用問題の解決にむけた11・26集会
　11月26日午後5時半から、東京・星陵会館で「JR不採用問題の解決にむけた11・26集会」が開催された。4者4団体の主催で、1047名国鉄労働者の解雇問題の政治解決をめざす重要な集会だった。上京した被解雇者の闘争団・家族の数は365名に達し、過去最大の動員となった。演壇には、民主・社民・国民新・公明・共産の5党の国会議員が来賓として並んだ。経過報告のなかで、二瓶久勝共闘会議議長は「われわれの解決要求は、民主党の議員を通して、国交大臣に伝えてある。路頭に迷わない内容で来年2月16日までに解決してくれ、というもので、JRなどへの雇用を希望する人数・解決金の金額など具体的に伝えてある。こちらはボールを投げた。あとは国交大臣の決断を待つだけである」と述べ、解決が近づいていることを強調した。（M）