Saturday, August 29, 2009

Aug. 15 Action against “Safety and Reliability by way of War State” ?


 On August 15, 2009, the “August 15 Action against ‘Safety and
Reliability by way of War State’” was held at the Zen-Suido Hall in
the Suidobashi district, central Tokyo. August 15 is the day when World
War II ended 64 years ago. This year is the 20th anniversary of the
accession of the current Emperor Akihito and the 50th anniversary of his
marriage to Princess Michiko. Participants in the event discussed the
meaning of honoring events to be forced on the people, discrimination
and xenophobia, and the dangerous nature of the imperial system as an
apparatus to integrate them into war. The rally started from the venue
to the Yasukuni Shrine with banners spread and puppets hoisted. Rightist
groups that gathered along the rally course repeatedly attacked the
nonviolent demonstrators who orderly chanted. (Reported by Y) Photos by Mkimpo Image
(YouTube)



「戦争国家で安心安全」を問う8・15行動~靖国デモに右翼の襲撃
 「終戦の日」の8月15日、東京・水道橋の全水道会館で「『戦争国家で安心安全』
を問う8・15行動」が行なわれた。今年は、現天皇明仁が即位して20年目。皇后
美智子との結婚50年目にあたる。集会参加者は、閉塞と混迷が深まり、格差と貧
困が拡大する社会状況のなかで、これから強制されようとしている奉祝行事の意
味や、差別・排外主義、戦争へと国民を統合していく、装置としての天皇制の、
危険な本質を探った。会場前から出発したデモ行進は、横断幕を広げ、パペット
を青空に掲げて、靖国神社をめざした。コース周辺に集結した右翼団体らは、整
然とシュプレヒコールをあげる無抵抗のデモ隊に対し、各地で激しい襲撃を繰り
返した。(報道部・Y)ムキンポ氏の写真動画(YouTube)

Maesawa Emiko, winning lawsuit against Skylark, awarded ? “Ryu


 The “Ryu Foundation for No More Karoshi!”, which has striven for the
eradication of karoshi, or death from overwork, held an award ceremony
of the 3rd Nakajima Tomio Prize in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo on August 9,
2009. About 170 people participated in the ceremony. Representing the
selection committee, Sataka Makoto, a critic, announced the award-winner
of this year. He explained the reason why Maesawa Emiko was selected,
“Her victory is a precious example in our usually unwinnable struggle
against karoshi”. Ms. Maesawa (in the photo), who received the
commendation, said, “I had regarded karoshi as being a thing in another
world until I became the bereaved. I really feel regrettable because
Skylark did not keep its word ‘Never again’ it had said when Mr.
Nakajima, a former Skylark employee, died from overwork. I am determined
to raise my voice and make utmost efforts for the eradication of karoshi”.
(Suda Mitsuteru) Image (UnionTube)

すかいらーくに勝った前沢笑美子さんが受賞~「過労死をなくそう!龍基金」
 過労死の撲滅に取り組んでいる「過労死をなくそう!龍基金」は8月9日、第3回
中島富雄賞授賞式を東京・葛飾で開催しました。約170人の市民が出席しました。
選考委員会を代表して、評論家の佐高信さんが今年の受賞者を発表。前沢笑美子
さんに決まった理由を「勝つことがあまりない私たちの闘いで前沢さんの解決は
貴重な例だ」と話しました。中島代表から表彰状を手渡された前沢さん(写真)
は「自分が遺族になるまで、過労死は別世界のことと捉えていた。すかいらーく
は中島さんが過労死した際に『二度と起こさない』と言っていたのに、本当にく
やしい。過労死根絶のため全力で声を出し行動していこうと決意している」と受
賞の言葉を述べました。(須田光照)動画(UnionTube)

Echo of voices “Yasukuni No!” in Ueno district, Tokyo ? 600 gathers in


About 600 people joined the “Light of Peace Now! Candle Action to the
Darkness of Yasukuni 2009” that was held at Over-water Open-air Music
Hall located in the Ueno Park, central Tokyo from 2 PM on August 8, 2009.
The gathering, subtitled “Watching Yasukuni from East Asia ? Concerts
and Testimonies”, was made up by testimonies, songs and dances of the
war bereaved from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, and the participants
started a candle demonstration from 7 PM. At the Ueno Hirokoji
Intersection crowded with weekend shoppers, various rightist groups
waved hinomaru, or Japan’s national flag and yelled at the
demonstrators for obstructing the rally. The marchers who hoisted
placards appealed to passers-by, repeating their powerful chants, “Don’
t enshrine at Yasukuni without consent!” and “Don’t glorify war!”
(Reported by Y) * Photo:Participants from East Asia


上野の街に「ヤスクニNO!」の声響く~キャンドル行動に600人
 8月8日、「平和の灯を!靖国の闇へ キャンドル行動2009」が、東京・上野公園
水上音楽堂で午後2時から開かれ、約600人が参加した。「東アジアからヤスクニ
を見る~コンサート&証言」と題した集会は、国内と韓国・台湾から駆けつけた
戦争犠牲者遺族の証言・歌・踊りで構成され、参加者は午後7時からキャンドル
デモに出発した。人波で賑わう上野広小路交差点付近には、デモ行進を妨害する
目的で集まった各種の右翼団体が、日の丸や旭日旗を振りかざし、参加者に罵声
を浴びせていた。プラカードを掲げた参加者は「ヤスクニ無断合祀反対!」「戦
争美化をやめろ!」など力強いコールを毅然と繰り返しながら、道行く人々に訴
えていた。(報道部・Y)*写真=東アジアの参加代表たち
壱花花(噴飯もの) ・動画(UnionTube)

Stop violent crackdown! ? Angry chants in front of South Korean Embassy


 In protest against the murderous crackdown on the strike by the
Ssangyong Motor Company Trade Union, Zenrokyo, National Trade Union
Council, and volunteers carried out the “Urgent Action in front of the
South Korean Embassy” in the afternoon of August 6, 2009. Despite the
last minute preparation, about 50 demonstrators joined the rally with
placards and flags, which started from a park in the Hiroo district in
central Tokyo. There were 34 individual and group advocates, including
Kamada Satoshi, a nonfiction writer. The demonstrators headed to the
South Korean Embassy, surrounded by many policemen. Only maximum five
persons were allowed to enter the embassy premises one after another due
to a request from the guard, but this made protest chants continue in
front of the embassy for more than an hour. A participant from Australia
powerfully appealed, “Your brutalities are all known to the world on
the Internet. We never forgive the violent crackdown”. (M) Image (UnionTube),
Image (Champon) 


暴力弾圧をやめろ!~韓国大使館前で怒りのシュプレヒコール
 双竜労組ストライキに対する殺人的暴力弾圧に抗議して、8月6日午後、全労協や
有志が呼びかけた「韓国大使館緊急行動」が取り組まれた。2日間の呼びかけに
もかかわらず、集合場所の公園(東京・広尾)には、プラカードや旗を手に続々
と集まり50人近くになった。賛同人は、鎌田慧さんなど34団体・個人に達した。
一行はたくさんの警察に囲まれながら、韓国大使館に向かった。警備の要請で、
抗議は5名ずつ順番に行うという形になったが、その結果、大使館前は1時間以上
もリレー式で抗議のシュプレヒコールが続くことになった。オーストラリアの参
加者は「あなたたちの蛮行はインターネットですべて筒抜けだ。暴力鎮圧を絶対
に許さない」と力強くアピールした。(M)動画(UnionTube)動画(チャンポン)

Foundation to support part-time and casual workers in Kanagawa Pref.


 In this recession, many workers lost their jobs, or are unfairly
dismissed or have their rights deprived. Some of them join a trade union
and succeed in solving their problems through collective bargaining, but
many others are still alone and exposed to unfair attack by their
employers. More and more individual workers try to defend their rights
by using the individual labor dispute settlement system (industrial
judgment) that began three years ago. However, it is necessary for them
to prepare down payment to a lawyer, and a foundation to loan it was
opened mainly by trade unions in Kanagawa Prefecture. A gathering “To
utilize foundation to support part-time and casual workers ? Don’t be
silent or silenced!” was held at a meeting room of the Minatomachi
Clinic near Yokohama Railway Station in the afternoon of August 1, 2009,
joined by about 20 persons. (Reported by TM)


神奈川で非正規労働者支援基金が創設されるー泣き寝入りをしない、させない運
動を!

 いま大不況のもとで多くの労働者が職を失い、不当に解雇されたり、権利を奪わ
れたりしている。労働組合に入り、団体交渉で解決できる場合もあるが、非正規
労働者が個人で経営者の不当な攻撃にさらされるケースも多い。3年前に始まっ
た個別労働紛争処理制度(労働審判)を利用して個人の労働者が権利を防衛しよ
うとする闘いが増大している。だが、労働審判を弁護士が助けるために着手金等
の費用が必要で、それを貸し付ける基金が神奈川県で労働組合が中心になって作
られた。8月1日午後、「非正規労働者支援基金活用の集い―泣き寝入りをしない、
させない運動を広げよう!」が横浜駅に近い港町診療所の会議室で開かれ、関係
者ら約20名が参加した。(報道部・TM)

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Anti-Poverty Network: Our Hopes for the Upcoming Election


On July 31, the Anti-Poverty Network held a meeting to raise awareness of the Network’s policy challenges to aim towards a more humanistic society that does not allow poverty to further develop in the back drop of the upcoming election. The meeting was called Our Hopes for the Upcoming Election. Some 350 participants, including many members from the press, filled the Sohyo Kaikan auditorium at Ochanomizu in Tokyo. This meeting was called as the kickoff project to start the anti-poverty campaign in 2009. The program was substantial running for two hours and no intermission. There was an air of excitement as participants listened intently for the whole two hours to the compelling arguments put forward by the speakers, and each party’s diet member (Y, News Team).


反貧困ネット「選挙目前!私たちが望むこと」集会に350人
 総選挙を控えた7月31日、今度こそ貧困の拡大を許さず、人間らしく生きる社会をめざそうと、「反貧困ネットワーク」が政策課題を掲げる集会を開いた。名称はズバリ「選挙目前! 私たちが望むこと」。東京・お茶の水の総評会館に、多数の報道陣を含め、満員の350人が集まった。2009年の「反貧困キャンペーン」のスタート企画として呼びかけられた。休憩時間をとらない、2時間びっしりと組まれたプログラム。会場は熱気であふれ、参加者たちは、当事者の切実な訴えや、各党の国会議員の発言に、最後まで真剣に耳を傾けていた。(報道部・Y)

Action against Panasonic held in Aichi: Two Dispatched Workers File to be recognised as Fulltime Workers.


On July 28, an action against Panasonic was held in Aichi as part of the national actions against Panasonic called by plaintiffs Tsutomu Yoshioka against Panasonic Plasma Display, Masako Sato against Fukushima Panasonic Electric Works, and Takeshi Kawamoto against Panasonic Electronics Device Japan. Some 30 people gathered at 7.30 AM to handout leaflets at a speak out at targeting workers at the Panasonic Ecosystems Factory located in Kasugai city. Around 400 leaflets were handed out. At 11 AM, two dispatched workers from Aichi Rentai Union filed a written complaint seeking to have Panasonic Ecosystems confirm its direct hire relations (see photo). The compliant was written by attorneys Yuji Nakatani and Shin Noguchi and amounted to 38 pages (Report written by Aichi Rentai Union).

パナソニック総行動 in 愛知~「派遣労働者」2名が雇用確認求め提訴
 7月28日、パナソニック総行動 in 愛知は、全国パナソニック総行動(呼びかけ=パナソニックPDP原告・吉岡力、パナソニック電工福島原告・佐藤昌子、パナソニックエレクトロニックデバパン原告・河本猛)の一環として取り組まれました。早朝7時半から、春日井市にあるパナソニックエコシステムズ工場労働者へ、約30人の仲間がビラ撒きとマイクアピールを行い、400枚のビラを渡すことができました。11時には愛知連帯ユニオンの「派遣労働者」2名がパナソニックエコシステムズに直接雇用関係の確認を求めて提訴(写真)、中谷雄二弁護士と野口新弁護士の書いた訴状は、38ページに及ぶものになりました。(愛知連帯ユニオン)

First Round of Rebellion by Female Dispatched Workers to Oppose the Japan Staffing Services Association


The Japan Staffing Services Association claims that enforcing regulations would mean fewer jobs for dispatched workers. But how true is this claim? It has only been just over six months since we felt the shock felt of seeing the jobless tent city at the start of the year. Despite this, both the ruling and opposing parties have stalled on the Dispatched Employee Law and we are back at square one. The dispatched services industry is active in blocking any regulation. In the midst of a potential change of government, newspapers have reported that the industry bigwigs have attempted to influence Diet members in the Democratic Party. We can no longer stay silent about this watching from the sidelines. We need your support to get 100,000 signatories for more regulation to protect dispatched workers in opposition to the petition being organised by the Japan Staffing Services Association to block any regulation of the industry. On August 5, we protested the Japan Staffing Services Association and had a cosplay march of anger. The rebellion by female dispatched workers will continue until we see the realization of further restrictions in the Dispatched Employee Law. (Written by Action Center for Working Women).

人材派遣協会の署名に反対しよう~オンナ・ハケンの乱 第一弾
 規制を強めると派遣労働の仕事がなくなるって、人材派遣会社はいうけど、ほんとにそう? 年末年始の派遣村の衝撃から、まだ半年と少ししかたっていないのに、与野党の派遣法案は廃案となり仕切りなおしとなりました。派遣業界は、規制阻止の動きを活発にしています。政権交代が叫ばれる中で、その動きは民主党議員にも働きかけがされていると新聞で報道されました。私たちは黙って、もう見ていることはできません。人材派遣協会の規制強化阻止の署名に反対し、派遣労働の規制強化を求める10万人署名活動に協力をして下さい。8月5日には人材派遣協会に抗議申し入れと怒りのコスプレパレードも行います。オンナ・ハケンの乱は、派遣法規制実現まで続くキャンペーンです。(働く女性の全国センター)

Unfair Court Ruling in Kanagawa against Teachers Who Refuse To Stand for the National Anthem


In just five seconds the Yokohama District Court on July 16 ruled that it would reject the plaintiffs’ case and its main argument. The plaintiffs who are 170 teachers in Kanagawa Prefecture have been fighting for freedom of speech for four years seeking courts to recognize that there is no legal obligation for Kanagawa teaching staff to stand for and sing the national anthem under the Constitution. On the day of the ruling, 140 teachers stood waiting outside the courts to hear the ruling as there was only 35 seats available in the auditorium. Plaintiff leader Sanrin was momentarily speechless after relaying to the crowd waiting outside that the unfair ruling was made in less than five seconds. However, he continued to say that this was definitely not the end, which was greeted with a loud applause. In Kanagawa, close to 100 teachers refuse to stand for the national anthem and are faced with legal battles every year. The defeated plaintiffs stated that that this ruling has put a brake on the battle that has been continuing for four years. (Written by M)

「わずか5秒で・・」~神奈川の「日の丸・君が代」裁判で不当判決!
「神奈川県教委の日の丸・君が代強制通知は違憲で、国歌斉唱時に起立して唱和する義務がない」ことの確認を求め、4年間争われてきた「こころの自由裁判」の判決が、7月16日横浜地裁であった。原告は、神奈川県立学校の教職員170名。この日地裁には、35席の傍聴のため140名が並んだ。判決は「主文、原告の請求を棄却する」の一言だけだった。地裁前で三輪原告団長は「わずか5秒で判決が終わってしまいました」と語ると一瞬絶句。「しかし、これで終わることは絶対にありません」と続けると支援者から大きな拍手が起きた。神奈川でも毎年100名近くの「不起立」のたたかいが続いているが、東京のような「職務命令・処分」をいまだに許していない。今回敗訴したが、「4年間やってきたこの裁判が大きな歯止めになってきた」と原告は語っていた。(M)