Breakthrough for rectifying the gap – Victory for 190,000 non-regular postal workers at Tokyo District Court

 

 On September 14, 2017, the Tokyo District Court made a groundbreaking decision in favor of plaintiffs who are temporary postal workers filing suit for rectifying the gap they have suffered on the basis of Article 20 of the Labor Contract Act while doing the same work as full-timers – their salaries being less than half of those of full-timers, their bonuses being minimal, no benefits for them, and few holidays. The court decided Japan Post violates the article, saying, “Damages for lost benefits for the year-end and new year work and housing allowances are approved. Failure to grant summer and winter holidays and sick leave to contract postal workers is an irrational treatment and an unlawful act”. The court ordered Japan Post to pay a total of 920,000 Japanese yen to the plaintiffs. They are members of the Postal Industry Workers Union (PIWU). The victory is not necessarily perfect but can be a breakthrough for rectifying the gap suffered by non-regular postal workers. This also leads to the rectification of the gap suffered by non-regular workers in all industries. (TS, PIWU)

「19万郵便非正規社員」格差是正の道開く～郵政「労契法20条裁判」で勝利判決！

９月１４日、東京地裁は正社員と同じ内容の仕事をしているのに、賃金は半分以下、

ボーナスは雀の涙、諸手当はなし、休暇は少ないという郵便局の期間雇用社員（非正

規）が、労働契約法２０条をたてに起こした訴訟に対して、画期的な判決を下しまし

た。「年末年始勤務手当と住居手当の損害賠償を認める。夏季冬季休暇、病気休暇が

契約社員に与えらえないことは、不合理な取り扱いにあたり、不法行為が成立する」

と日本郵便が労働契約法２０条に違反していると認定しました。計９２万円の支払い

を命じました。この裁判は、私が所属している郵政産業労働者ユニオンの組合員であ

る期間雇用社員が起こしたものです。完全勝利とは言えませんけれど、１９万人に及

ぶ日本郵便の非正規労働者の格差是正の道を開く判決を勝ち取りました。それは郵便

局だけでなく、全ての業種で働く非正規労働者の格差是正につながるものです。（郵

政ユニオン・TS）

Stick the knife into the abnormal workplace〜victorious settlement out of court in karoshi suicide case at Saitama Shin-toshin Post Office

 A press conference was held on Oct. 12 at Saitama prefectural office building after the karoshi suicide induced by overwork at Saitama Shin-toshin Post Office was reconciled and settled out of court. It was Dec. 8, 2010, that a worker (then 51) leaped to his death at the workplace. At that time the ultimate rationalization called, “the Toyota method,” had been introduced at post offices. At this post office, workers who had accidents were forced to stand on platforms to speak words of soul-searching. They were also forced to buy New Year’s cards to fill the sales quota, which often caused them to shoulder the financial burden. The post office was a place filled with power harassment. In the abnormal workplace environment, the victim diagnosed with depression was driven into suicide. His wife says, “The Japan Postal Group (JP) Union, which my husband was a member of, ignored me, but Postal Industry Workers Union (PIWU) helped me with the lawsuit.” In December 2013, while raising three children, she filed a lawsuit against the company in demand for an apology and compensation. Three years later, on Oct. 11, the two parties reached an agreement. In the settlement document, Japan Post admitted a virtual responsibility by saying that it “regrets its loss.” (By M)

*Photo:press conference on Oct. 12

郵便局の異常職場にメス！～さいたま新都心 郵便局「過労自死事件」が勝利和解

10月12日午後、さいたま新都心郵便局「過労自死事 件」が和解解決し、県庁で記者会見があった。Ａさん（当時51 歳）が、職場で飛び降り自殺したのは2010年12月8日。当時、郵便 局では極限の合理化といわれる「トヨタ方式」が導入されてい た。この郵便局では、事故を起こした職員を「お立ち台」に立た せ反省を迫ったり、年賀状の買い取りをさせる「自爆営業」など がまかり通り、局全体がパワハラ職場だった。異常な労働環境の なかでＡさんはうつ病を発生し、自死に追いこまれた。妻によれ ば、「本人が所属していたJP労組からは無視されたが、郵政ユニ オンが相談に乗ってくれて、裁判を起こすことができた」とい う。2013年12月に、子ども三人を抱えながら妻は、謝罪と損害賠 償を求めて提訴。そして3年の裁判をへて、10月11日に和解が成立 した。和解文で、会社は「遺憾」という表現で事実上の責任を認 めた。（M） 続き・NHKニュース・弁護士ドットコム ・東京新聞　＊写真＝多くのメディアが集まった会見