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）

“Free to dismiss and use without overtime pay” - Labor organization rally against Abe administration

On May 11, 2016, a rally named “Improve our employment and life – Down with Abe! The next arrows will be ‘Freedom to dismiss’ and ‘Freedom to use without overtime pay’” was held at the Hibiya Open-air Music Hall in central Tokyo. 1,800 workers, citizens and lawyers joined the bipartisan rally organized by the Labour Lawyers Association of Japan, with cooperation of various labor organizations, such as Rengo (Japanese Trade Union Confederation), Zenroren (National Confederation of Trade Unions) and Zenrokyo (National Trade Union Council). At the beginning of the rally, NATSUME Ichiro, the president of the association, said, “Prime Minister Abe is only saying something cozy, but we stay alert”. Then, NAKANE Yasuhiro, a Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives, KOIKE Akira, a Communist member of the House of Councilors, and YOSHIDA Tadatomo, a Social Democratic member of the House of Councilors delivered speeches, followed by many Communist MPs. These three joined their hands, strongly reassuring the opposition alliance to stop the deterioration of labor laws and the runaway of the Abe administration. (WATANABE Manabu)

Video(10 minutes)

「解雇自由・定額働かせ放題」アベ政権はもう嫌だ！～労働団体の違いこえて1800人

５月１１日、「雇用と暮らしの底上げアクション アベ政権はもう嫌だ！～次に来る矢は“解雇自由”と“定額働かせ放題”」が東京・日比谷野音で開催されました。日本労働弁護団らのよびかけで、連合、全労連、全労協、中立系など労働団体の違いを越えて１８００名の労働者、市民、弁護士が集まりました。集会の冒頭、労働弁護団の棗一郎会長が「安倍首相が選挙を前にいいことばかり言っているが油断してはならない」と情勢報告をしました。国会議員のあいさつとして、民進党・中根康浩衆院議員、共産党・小池晃参院議員、社民党・吉田忠智参院議員が発言をしました。他にも共産党からたくさんの国会議員が駆けつけて登壇しました。あいさつをした３名の方たちはお互いに手をつなぎ合って、野党共闘で労働法制の改悪と安倍政権の暴走を止めていくことを力強くアピールし、会場から声援を送られました。（渡辺学） 

Press conference held against the summit on “War and Heavy tax”

On May 12, 2016, grassroots organizations that oppose the G7 Ise-Shima Summit held an “open-air press conference” in front of the Bank of Japan headquarters. Its neo-baroque building is solemn. The press conference began at a dark walkway. About a dozen journalists joined it, mostly freelancers. More than 30 security police officers were watching the press conference, making the atmosphere abnormally tense. OGURA Toshimaru, one of its organizers, said, “Why do leaders of nations advocating democracy decide on the world without listening to the people or the congresses? In particular, this summit possibly becomes the first step for Japan to be committed to war on terror in view of the enactment of the War Law here. In addition, as the Panama Papers show, people suffer from heavy tax while the rich are evading tax. This press conference is to express our anger”. Others criticized “excessive security and human rights violation” that are carried out in the name of security in the summit. (M)

<http://www.labornetjp.org/news/2016/0512shasin> Photo flash

<https://youtu.be/oGFWxQKyrxE> Video (5 minutes)

<http://www.labornetjp.org/news/2016/0513douga> Messages from Italy and Pakistan

サミットで勝手に決めるな！「戦争と重税」～日銀前で記者会見

Ｇ７伊勢志摩サミットに反対する市民団体が、5月12日夜、日銀本店前で「街頭記者会見」を行なった。日本のカネの総本山・日銀本店は「ネオ・バロック建築」で威厳を放っていた。ネオンもない薄暗い歩道で、会見が始まった。参加した記者はフリーがほとんどで10人余り。一方道路をはさんで監視する公安警察官が30人以上いて、異常な光景だった。主催者の一人、小倉利丸さんがマイクを握った。「民主主義を標榜する国のリーダーが議会や国民の声を聞かずに、勝手に世界のことを決めていいのか。今回はとくに戦争法成立のあとであり、日本が対テロ戦争に加担する一歩になりかねない。またパナマ文書で明らかになったが、金持ちは税金逃れの一方、各国の国民は重税を押しつけられている。その怒りの声をぶつけたいと思い、日銀前での会見になった」と。またサミット警備に名を借りた「過剰警備・人権侵害」についての批判も出た。（M）