Don’t sell my overtime work hours! ~ Workers protest against Rengo

 

Workers raised their voices on July 19 in front of Rengo headquarters in protest against the nation’s largest labor confederation’s decision on whether to approve the “zero overtime pay bill.” The action was led by a 33-year-old, non-union man. “’Don’t sell my overtime hours without my approval!’ This is the angry voices of all the workers,” he said. “The Rengo executives should stop misappropriation of the union, annul its decision and return to what a union should be. I came here to show support in bringing Rengo back on its feet.” The protesters grew to 120, most of whom acted on his/her own.

 “This is the first time I came to Rengo office, and I am surprised how elaborate the building is,” another one spoke. “Stop looking up (to the people in control) but start listening to the voices of the workers.” Yet another worker said, “I want Rengo to do the right thing as a labor union.”

 Rengo’s controversial decision was initiated by some leadership without any internal discussion. Names of Rengo’s General Secretary OHMI Naoto and MURAKAMI Yoko, chief of department of working conditions, appeared on a banner in the protest. (By M)

私の残業を勝手に売るな！～連合本部前で「働く個 人」が声上げる

 
7月19日、連合本部前で「残業代ゼロ容認」に抗議 の声が上がった。呼びかけたのは労組メンバーではなく、33歳の 働く個人男性だった。「私の残業を勝手に売るな！というのが、み んなの怒りの声。連合執行部は私物化をやめ、決定を取り消して 本来の労働組合に戻ってほしい。連合はしっかりしてほしい。そ の後押しのつもりで来た」と訴えた。参加者は徐々に増えて120人 になった。みんな個人での参加だ。フリーマイクでは「初めて連合 に来たが建物が立派で驚いた。上ばかりみないで現場の労働者の 声を聞いてほしい」「労働組合としての本分を果たしてほしい」 など切実なアピールが続いた。今回の「残業代ゼロ法案」容認 は、執行部の一部メンバーの主導でクーデター的に行われた。こ の日の横断幕でも執行部の「逢見直人事務局長」と「村上陽子総 合労働局長」が名指しで批判されていた。（M)

‘I cannot forgive that as a human being’~protest to demand reinstatement of workers at Sanken Electric Co, South Korea

 

Even in the cold rain of March, roughly 200 people gathered at a park in Niiza City, Saitama Prefecture, near Sanken Electric Co headquarters. They were to launch a regular protest to demand reinstatement of the South Korean workers who were dismissed from the company’s production department last September. It’s been 160 days since the three union representatives came to Japan, where their company’s headquarters is based, to demand reinstatement.

 Many Japanese unions and local residents also joined the March 26 protest in the struggles of their Korean counterparts. “People in the community know the struggles of the Sanken workers who appeal to them at Shiki Station every day. While we have gained more supports, we also hear people say that we should stand with Japanese workers rather than Koreans. When I hear people say this to me, I always tell them, ‘I want to say that I am a human being before I am Japanese,’” a local resident who’s supported the struggles spoke at the rally.

 The protesters chanted slogans to demand withdrawal of restructuring and reinstatement of the 34 workers before they set out for a demonstration around Shiki Station. (By ARIMORI Akane) 

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「人間として許せない！」～韓国サンケンの整理解雇撤回を求めてデモ

3月26日。久しぶりの雨にもかかわらず、サンケン電気本社ちかくにある三軒屋公園

（新座市）には200人が集まった。昨年9月に生産部門全員が解雇された韓国サンケン

の労働者。3人が韓国から日本に渡り、サンケン本社前で「解雇撤回」を訴えて160日

になる。厳しい闘いを頑張りぬく韓国サンケンの労働者を見守ってきた、多くの日本

の労働組合、地元市民が駆けつけた。連帯活動をしている新座市の坂本さんは、「韓

国サンケンの人たちが、毎日志木駅前で訴えているのを、地元の人たちは見ている。

頑張れという声が増えている一方で『韓国人よりも日本人の立場に立つべきでしょ

う』という声もある。でも私は『日本人である前に人間だ』と答えている」と力強く

アピールした。集会の後、「整理解雇撤廃！」「サンケン電気は34名を職場に戻

せ！」とシュプレヒコールを上げ、サンケン本社、志木駅をデモをした。（有森あか

ね） 

動画（10分）