Tokyo Subway Newsstand Vendors on Casual Contract Talk About Strike on Labornet TV

Three of six women vendors of Tokyo subway newsstands who went on strike in March  appeared in the labornet TV program on April 11 (see photo). "We were scared about possible negative impacts of the strike. We were shivering in fact. But we are truly happy with what we have done," they said. They work for Metro Commerce Co., a subsidiary of Tokyo Metro, on limited-term contract. After patiently negotiating with the company to improve the discriminatory conditions imposed on casual workers for years, they went on strike on March 18 in demand for abolishing the retirement age system. (For details of the epoch-making strike, see the article of April 7) "We were afraid that the customers would complain about the inconvenience caused. On the contrary, many of them encouraged us on the following day. Some said they had seen the youtube video and offered handshakes. This made us realize that many people are unsatisfied with their wages, but enduring just like us. We feel as if we had entered into the society for the first time with the strike. We are truly happy with the support extended by so many people. We feel confident and encouraged with the fact that we raised our voice and many people responded to our call," said USHIRO Ryoko, the president of the Metro Commerce local of National Union of General Workers Tokyo Tobu. The strike resulted in the six-month extension of the contract for SENUMA Kyoko, one of the members. "I think it is worthwhile devoting myself to the labor union movement. I will continue to make efforts for fellow members," said Senuma proudly. (By M)  Photos  Archive video of the program(no subtitles)  Video of the strike (no subtitles)   

震えたけどたたかってよかった～「レイバーネットTV」で東京メトロ売店の非正規女性たち

「怖かった、足が震えた。でもたたかってよかった」。4月11日の「レイバーネットTV」に出演した東京メトロ売店で働く3人の女性は異口同音に語った（写真）。差別と切り捨てに我慢ならず6人で決行した3月18日のストライキ。日本でも画期的な非正規ストだった。後呂（うしろ）良子委員長は語る。「その翌日、お客に文句を言われるかと思った。でもちがった。動画を見たよ、と握手を求める人もいた。みんな“もっとやれ”という。そうかみんな安い賃金で我慢している人ばかりなんだ。ストライキで初めて世の中に一歩踏みだした気がした。多くの支援がうれしかった。私たちでも発信してこんな大きなことが出来るのだ。自信、力が湧いてきた」。実際、このストライキで会社は譲歩。瀬沼京子組合員の半年間の雇用延長を勝ち取った。瀬沼さんは「ユニオン活動は、人生を賭ける価値あるものと思った。これからも頑張りたい」と胸を張った。（M） 写真速報・放送アーカイブ（85分 特集は8分から）・3.18ストライキ映像

Beyond the corporate framework – Katsushika Ward Trade Union Council formed

On March 2, 2013, a new trade union confederation was formed in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, in which the National Union of General Workers Tokyo Tobu is based. On that day, the trade union council held its inaugural meeting (photo). It consists of the Katsushika Local of the Tokyo Sanitation Workers’ Union, the Sanitation Workers’ Union of Jichiro (All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Union), Tokyo Tobu, Kokuro (National Railway Workers’ Union), the Telecommunications Industry Labor Union, and the NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone) Trade Union Council. All the affiliated unions were determined to be in solidarity locally to protect the interests of working people. (SUDA Mitsuteru, Tokyo Tobu)

企業の枠を超えたつながり～東京・葛飾区労協が結成される

３月２日、私たち東部労組の地元である東京・葛飾で新たな労組間共闘組織が結成されましたので、お知らせします。東京・葛飾地域に基盤を置く様々な労働組合が集まった「葛飾地区労働組合協議会」（略称：葛飾区労協）です。３月２日に結成総会を葛飾区勤労福祉会館で開きました（写真）。加盟労組は、東京清掃労組葛飾支部、自治労・公共サービス清掃労組、全国一般東京東部労組、国鉄労働組合、電通労組、ＮＴＴ関連合同労組の６労組です。規約案や議案が満場の拍手で確認され、「企業の枠を超えた労働者の利益を守るために地域で団結して闘おう」と決意を固めあいました。（東部労組・須田光照）

Tokyo High Court Penalizes Travel Company for Failing to Pay Overtime Work

National Union of General Workers, Tokyo Tobu, won a lawsuit against Hankyu Travel Support Co. for failing to pay overtime work. The Tokyo High Court upheld lower court’s decision on Sept. 14 that the company must calculate work hours of tour guides. The court dismissed the company’s claim that the overtime hours were included in the salary because it was difficult to calculate the hours. The court ordered the defendant to pay 513,730 yen unpaid and an equivalent amount for penalty.
At the press conference held at the labor ministry, the plaintiff, Ms. Toyoda, said she hoped the decision would help improve working conditions of her colleagues in the industry. “I am really happy that the court understood the working conditions of travel guides,” she said. “I will try to improve the working conditions of travel guides in solidarity with others.” (By Sugano, NUGW Tokyo Tobu) *Photo: Toyoda and lawyers in front of the court house after the verdict

東京高裁も「偽装みなし労働」を断罪～阪急トラベルサポートの不払い残業代請求訴訟

　9月14日、東京東部労組HTS（阪急トラベルサポート）支部が闘っている「偽装みなし労働」撤廃のための不払い残業代請求裁判控訴審の判決があり、1審に続き、組合側完全勝利判決をかちとりました。高裁は、1審に続き、「添乗員の労働時間算定は可能」と明確に判断し、「事業場外みなし労働」の適用を否定。未払い残業代51万3730円の支払いを命じると共に、同額の付加金（ペナルティ）の支払いも命じました。組合はこの勝利判決を受け、弁護団とともに厚労省記者クラブで記者会見を行いました。その席で原告の豊田さんは「添乗員の業務の実態を分かってもらった判決でとても嬉しい。この判決をステップに、力をあわせてがんばる。これを期に業界全体が変わってほしい」と訴えました。（東部労組・菅野） 　＊写真＝喜びの当該労働者と弁護団（裁判所前）

Protest Against Revoking of Job Offers ～ Students Stand Up, Unionize

On Nov. 28, the National Union of General Workers Tokyo Tobu held a press conference at Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry for 53 university senior students whose job offers were revoked. (See photo) They were to start work at The Japan General Estate Co next spring. We announced to the press that some of the students joined the Tokyo Tobu and decided to resolve the case through collective bargaining with the company. The Tokyo Tobu and non-profit organization Labor Consultation Center have been receiving an increasing number of calls from university students about cancellation of job offers amid the global financial crisis. At the time jobs are unofficially offered, the relationship between labor and management is already established. Annulment of the offers without compensation should not be forgiven. The students who joined the Tokyo Tobu said they were able to encourage others who are experiencing the same struggle because they decided to stand up for their rights. (By Ari Sugano, Tokyo Tobu)


内定取り消しを許さない～学生が組合に加入し立ち上がる
　11月28日、私たち全国一般東京東部労組は、マンション分譲大手「日本綜合地所」が来春入社予定の大学4年生53人の採用内定を取り消した問題について厚生労働省で記者会見し（写真）、内定を取り消された一部の学生が東部労組に加入したことと団体交渉で解決を求めることを明らかにしました。金融危機をきっかけに東部労組やＮＰＯ法人労働相談センターには内定取り消しの相談が相次いでいます。内定通知を受けた段階で企業と学生との間には労働契約が成立しています。法的にも社会的にも許されません。組合員になった学生は「自分が泣き寝入りしないことで、内定取り消しで同じように辛い目にあっている学生を励ましたい」と話しています。（東部労組・須田）