20 Years of Rengo National Center	No.656 November 3, 2009
		The principle of labor movement lies in creating and defending good working conditions in which workers enjoy a healthy life to keep working. The basic policy was maintained as a rule in the era when the Socialist Party and the Sohyo, General Council of Trade Unions of Japan, existed. The labor movements were actively committed in the problems in people’s lives and workplaces to improve conditions, waging struggles against rationalization of labor. It is 20 years since the establishment of RENGO, the Japan Trade Union Confederation, and struggles are inactive at workplaces these days. STRUGGLES ARE NOT SEEN AT WORKPLACES Political Struggles Should Be Fought One of the reasons which explain the great economic success of Japan after WWII is attributed to the permanent employment and seniority wage system. Disregarding the public sector or private, every employee was hired as a regular worker and employers were not allowed to fire workers at their disposal. Workers dedicated their labor, motivated to receive a higher wage in the future though the initial salary was low. On the other hand, however, they were obliged to be faithful to the employers. Under these circumstances, workers were organized in the in-house unions, which had some demerits though, and struggled against the Liberal Democratic Party governments and monopolies to improve their working conditions so that they could keep working with good health and enjoy better living conditions through Spring Labor Offensives. The labor movements were committed in the political agenda, including peace and pension issues. The union leadership organized demonstrations to encircle the Diet building, rallies and general strikes. Workers, sharing common struggles and overcoming discriminations, fought at the workplaces by exchanging information. The Sohyo was the top leadership of trade unions in Japan. Affiliation to RENGO In the decade of 1980 many contentions were raised: after establishment of ZENROREN (the National Confederation of Trade Unions) and RENGO, every industry and every union was exposed to the arguments. Many unions decided to affiliate with ‘the RENGO to create militant Sohyo movements’. But after twenty years the RENGO raises a campaign, ‘labor movements should contribute to development of employers’. The policy has undermined and destroyed struggles at workplaces in a speedy manner. The decline was characterized by deformed Spring Labor Offensives, which used to be the peak of annual activities. The RENGO accused a strike policy, labeling ‘Strike-First orientation’, advising negotiations to each union instead of the unified struggle by industry. The RENGO denied struggles to demand higher wage, opening a way to a system in which job outcomes should be appreciated in salary calculation and throwing away the traditional annual wage hike system. The RENGO insists that ‘the wage cannot be obtained by struggles, but by job capabilities’, which is a capitalist logic. Currently the employment system represents an arrangement to balance the profit of employers and irregular employees are of dominant labor force. Employers are allowed to hire and fire workers at their disposal. The majority of workforce consists of irregular workers. Since 1997 the personal income has diminished, while companies have enjoyed bigger profits in the economic development. Workers earning 3 million Yen a year occupy over a half of the total workforce and the unemployment rate as of August 2009 recorded 5.7%, which is a historic high ratio. Despite these circumstances the RENGO does not organize counterattacks. On the contrary, the national center does not support abrogation of Worker Dispatch Act. Collaborative Relations Are Dominant The Aso Government was criticized as a cabinet made of friends. The same atmosphere is created within the labor movements: members are friendly to each other, they do not frankly discuss truths, and they socialize in harmony. Unionists are excessively afraid to be isolated from others, and they do not share common agenda at workplaces. Even some of the militant industries which maintain the traditions of Sohyo wear a coat of RENGO, appreciate the orders of RENGO and evade conflicting situations. After the congress of RENGO, the major newspaper, the Yomiuri, writes that the basis of economic development lies in firm collaboration of the labor and the capital. This philosophy represents the spirit of the Nippon KEIDANREN, the Japan Business Federation. The poverty rate of Japan records 15.7%, that is one out of seven people is poor, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Poverty spreads fast. Unless RENGO activates unions, workers’ life deteriorates. The initiative to advance movements lies in re-construction of struggles at workplaces.