Verdict supported discrimination by Metro Commerce~Workers, supporters express anger over unfair verdict

“It really exhausted me because the verdict was unexpectedly, indescribably unfair,” said USHIRO Ryoko, Metro kiosk vendor and one of the plaintiffs of a lawsuit against Metro Commerce Co, at a press conference after the verdict was handed down. Ushiro and three other union members filed a lawsuit against the company for violation of Labor Contract Law Article 20, which prohibits unreasonable discrimination against limited-term contract workers, claiming that they were unfairly discriminated against over wages and bonuses. They demanded over 45 million yen for compensation. The court, however, ruled that the company should pay 4,109 yen for overtime to Ushiro and dismissed all other claims. In its ruling, the court compared the plaintiffs’ work with other permanent employees’ jobs rather than those who are also vendors at kiosks. “Permanent ‘seishain’ employees have job transfers because their contract is based on a long-term employment and so they deserve better and more benefits,” the court said. The ruling betrayed the spirit of Labor Contract Law Article 20, leaving about 150 supporters speechless and angry. (By M)

 Photo: "Unfair verdict"  Youtube

メトロコマース非正規差別を追認した裁判所！～「欠陥判決」に怒り収まらず

「あまりにひどくて呆れてしまった。不当判決ではすまない。欠陥判決だ！」。原告

の東京メトロ売店員・後呂良子さんは判決後の記者会見でこう述べた。有期労働者へ

の不合理な差別を禁止した「労働契約法20条」を根拠に争ってきたメトロコマース裁

判。同じ仕事なのに賃金・賞与などで不当な差別があったとして、4人で計4560万円

の損害賠償を求めた原告に対して、吉田徹裁判長の判決は「早出手当の差額分4109

円」だけを認め、あとは全面棄却の内容だった。請求額の1万分の1判決である。裁判

所は、売店業務の正社員との比較をさけ正社員一般との比較にすり替えた。「正社員

は長期雇用を前提に配転などがあり、福利厚生等を手厚くすることは合理性がある」

として、非正規との格差があって当然とした。「労働契約法20条」の精神は完全に踏

みにじられた。約150人の支援者が裁判所に詰めかけたが、みんなの怒りは収まらな

かった。（M） 

動画（7分）

Epoch-making decision! – Wage gap for workers reemployed after age of retirement unlawful

On May 13, 2016, the Tokyo District Court handed down an epoch-making decision favorable to working people who are reemployed after the age of retirement. Regulations and agreements to reduce their wages after the reemployment were judged to violate Article 20 of the Labor Contract Act. In addition, the court confirmed that the reemployed workers are in a position eligible for wage and employment regulations that apply to full-time employees, and ordered the company management to pay the amount of the wage gap to them. This decision is the first to confirm that the Labor Contract Act applies to fixed-term workers employed after the age of retirement. YAMAGUCHI Osamu, the plaintiff, said, “Now I can get a bonus. Enough is enough. I am very happy with the great decision. We can win if we become courageous. This victory will be the example”. (TSUCHIYA Tokachi)

胸のすく画期的判決！～定年後再雇用の賃金格差は「労働契約法20条」違反

5月13日東京地裁で、定年後再雇用された労働者にとって、希望となる画期的な判決が出た。定年後再雇用者の正社員との賃金規定・契約は「労働契約法20 条」違反するとして無効。その上で、正社員に適用される賃金規定及び就業規則が適用される地位にあることを確認し、賃金格差の差額の支払を命じた。定年後再雇用の有期契約労働者にも労働契約法が適用されることが確認された初めての判決だ。原告の山口修さんは「これで一時金がもらえる（笑）。賃金カットされて、こんな理不尽な目にあうのはコリゴリ。素敵な判決がもらえてほんとうに嬉しかった。勇気をもってたたかえば勝てる。その一例になったと思う」と語った。（土屋トカチ）