The karoshi
lawsuit filed against the Japanese pub chain Watami Co. and its former
president WATANABE Miki has finally come to close after a two-year-long
settlement. The lawsuit was filed over the death of its employee, MORI Mina,
who committed suicide only two months after joining Watami, because of
excessive work caused by the company’s motto, “Work 24 hours a day 365 days a
year till you die.” The settlement was a landmark, all-out victory for the
bereaved and the National Union of General Workers, Tokyo Tobu.
At the press conference in the Ministry of
Health, Labor and Welfare on Dec. 8, MORI Tsuyoshi, father of the victim and
the suit’s plaintiff said, “Watanabe has disliked the labor union from the
beginning. Although we have been at a loss about what to do with ourselves, we
have been greatly encouraged by the labor union, Tokyo Tobu, and our supportive
friends.” The mother, Yuko, said, “How I wish I could turn back time. I deeply
regret that I should have done everything to stop her when she expressed her
desire to work at Watami. I will regret forever that I couldn’t help her out of
such difficulties.”
At the end of her remarks she said, “I haven’t
been able to cry, but now that the case has settled, I think maybe I can
release my tears at last.” Saying so,
she smiled for the first time. (MATSUMOTO Chie)
ワタミ過労自死事件で画期的勝利和解～母・祐子さん「これでやっと泣けるかも」
入
社わずか２ヶ月で亡くなった社員の死は、「２４時間３６５日死ぬまで働け」という会社の理念が引き起こした長時間労働が原因だった、などとしてワタミ株式
会社と元代表取締役の渡邉美樹らを提訴した過労自死裁判が、丸２年の和解協議を経て終結した。遺族と、裁判闘争を支援した全国一般東京東部労組の全面勝利
だった。「渡邉氏は最初から労組を嫌っていました。私たちだけでは途方に暮れたことも、東部労組と仲間がいたおかげで大きく勇気づけられました」。裁判原
告となった森豪さんは、１２月８日、厚労省での記者会見でそう語った。母・祐子さんは、「できれば時計を戻したい。娘がワタミに就職をしたい、と言ったと
きに何としても止めるべきだったと後悔している。生きているうちに助け出してやれなかったことは、死ぬまで後悔するだろう」。そして最後に「これまで涙が
出ることはなかったけれど、これでやっと泣けるようになるかも」。そう言って、はじめて笑顔を見せた。（松元ちえ） ＊写真＝娘の遺影を前に会見に臨む森夫妻
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