“We end our struggle with pride” Settlement reached in five and a half year-long Fujibi Case

 

The fifth annual general meeting of the Support Coalition for Fujibi Dismissed Workers was held in Arakawa City, Tokyo on February 21st. The representative of the Coalition, KUBO Satoshi, announced, “There was a meeting with the Fujibi Co. yesterday, and we finally settled the case.” In 2012, 18 workers were unfairly dismissed by printing company Fujibi Co. . The representative of the Fujibi Division of the National Union of General Workers Tokyo Union, KOGANEI, told the supporters; “We fought on for five and a half years, with a belief in workers’ solidarity and the conviction that the center of the struggle is on the work-floor and in the community. It was a hard struggle, but a precious experience, on which we will build our future movement.” Division Secretary NAKAHARA Junko, reflected on the long hard struggle; “Our hardship started with the company’s bankruptcy, followed by seven defeats in the Labor Relations Commission and courts. Finally, there was a defeat in the libel case brought up by the company, where we were ordered to pay 3.5 million Yen in compensation. This ruling included a preliminary execution declaration, so we were constantly facing the danger of a compulsory execution. Now, our long struggle is finally over. I am really proud of my co-workers who stuck together for five and a half years.” (OZAWA Kuniko)   

「誇りをもってフジビ闘争をやり切った」〜5年半の争議が解決

2月21日、東京・荒川区のムーブ町屋ホールで開かれたフジビ闘争支援共闘会議第5回総会で、議長の久保聡さんから 「昨日会社側と和解協議があり、解決に至りました」と報告があった。当該の全国一般東京労組フジビグループ分会の小金井分会長は「労働者の団結と連帯、そして闘いの現場は社前にあり地域にあり街頭にある。それを信じてこの5年半を闘ってきた。きついけれど貴重な体験をした。この経験を今後の運動に生かしていきたい」と話した。中原書記長は「破産から始まり、都労委の不当命令、スラップ訴訟の最高裁上告棄却など8回の不当決定、不当命令、不当判決を受けながら、ひるまずにやってきた。スラップ訴訟の地裁判決は仮執行宣言がついていたので、いつ強制執行があるかわからないという思いの中で、現在まで続いていた。やっと終わった。この5年半の闘いを共に闘いぬいた仲間たちと共に、誇りをもってこのフジビ闘争をやり切った思いでいっぱいだ」とあいさつした。（尾澤邦子）

 

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“What’s wrong with our banners?” Labor Lawyers Association stands up for freedom of speech

 

“These banners show our anger, demands and determination” explained NAKAHARA Junko, one of the dismissed workers, at the news conference held on December 26^th. She was dismissed from Fuji Platemaking Co, a subsidiary of a printing company Fujibi in 2012. The banners read “We won’t allow discarding workers!” “A major printing Co. Fujibi should take the responsibility!” “No to wage theft by the billionaire President!” The company claimed that these words were libel and sued the dismissed workers. Tokyo High Court accepted the claim and ordered the workers to pay 3.5 million Yen in compensation. The Labor Lawyers Association issued a protest resolution on November 11^th and asked the Supreme Court to cancel this High Court decision. The Association held a press conference on December 26^th and the President of the Association, TOKUZUMI Kenji, said, “Freedom of speech is vital for labor unions. We will not let go this decision”. NAKAHARA also spoke at the conference, “I hope the Court will understand the feelings of the working people. There are many workers who cannot speak up. With these silent voices on our back, we will reverse the decision at the Supreme Court”. (M)

このノボリ旗のなにが問題？～「言論活動否定の判決」に日本労働弁護団も声上げる

「このノボリ旗には私たちの怒り・要求・決意がこもっています」、解雇された中原純子さんは、12月26日の記者会見でノボリ旗を掲げた（写真）。そこには「安い給料で使い捨て 泣き寝入りしないぞ／荒川区の『印刷御三家』フジビは責任を取れ！／億万長者の社長が給料・退職金をふみ倒すな！」と書いてある。ところが「この文言が会社に対する名誉毀損である」という会社の言い分を、東京地裁・高裁は認め、解雇された人に350万円を払えという判決を下した。前代未聞の判決に日本労働弁護団（1700人）も「看過できない」と立ち上がった。11月11日には異例の抗議決議を採択し、最高裁に判決変更を求めている。26日の会見で徳住会長は「労働組合にとって言論活動は生命線。絶対に許されない」と語気を強めた。中原さんは「裁判所には働くものの気持ちをわかってほしい。泣き寝入りしている労働者はたくさんいるが、その声を背景に最高裁で覆していきたい」と胸を張った。（M）