On Initiation of Negotiation Talks between the Kokuro Workers’ Union and JR

Handbill from the Kokuro Dismissed Workers Group

This handbill was distributed by the Kokuro Dismissed Workers Group against the Four Party Agreement in front of the Ministry of Transport in August. )

ANOTHER UNFAIR ACT WAGED BY THE STATE AGAINST LABOR

WE DISMISS ‘FOUR-PARTY AGREEMENT’!

On May 30, 2000, the three ruling parties ( the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the Conservative Party ) as well as the Social-Democratic Party reached an accord ‘On Breakthrough of the Employment Rejection Issue by privatized Japan Railway Corporations’.

The ‘Four-Party Agreement’ features ‘the Kokuro should admit the new private railway companies are exempt from any legal responsibilities’ and that ‘the agreement should be officially approved in the Kokuro’s national congress ( extraordinary ). It imposes the procedure as a major prerequisite. It also demands the Kokuro to abandon the struggle to demand the parties responsibilities for the unfair labor conducts by presenting several terms and conditions; it will seek for a settlement over the dispute in the framework of three fields, ‘employment’, ‘dismissal of litigation’ and ‘reconciliation money’. The accord represents another unfair act

waged by the state against the labor.

DEEP COMMITMENTS MADE BY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT

It is evident that the Ministry of Transport has committed profoundly in concluding the Four-Party Agreement as you see the following facts.

On the following day of the judicial decision by the Tokyo District Court ( May 29, 1998 ) then-Minister of Transport Fujii had commented in the press conference that the Kokuro should not enter appeal as a condition to settle the controversy through negotiation.

In the statement compiled by the Ministry of Transport ‘On Initiation of Negotiation Talks between the Kokuro Workers’ Union and the privatized Japan Railway Corporations’ ( June 15, 1999 ) the ministry had demanded the Kokuro to totally surrender by imposing conditions; ‘the Kokuro admit the new JR firms do not owe legal responsibility’, ’the Kokuro dismiss litigation, at least those relevant to the reform of the former Japan National Railway Corporation, at the proper time, coordinating with a negotiation process between the parties concerned’ and ‘negotiating partners with whom the JR management will discuss be the Kokuro’s area headquarters’. These contents are fully incorporated in the Four-Party Agreement concluded this year.

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND JAPAN RAILWAY CORPORATIONS ASSUME

RESPONSIBILITIES!

International Labor Organization advised the government of Japan on November 18, 1999; ‘the Organization requests the government to urge the JR firms and the trade union concerned to negotiate to bring about fair compensation for the relevant workers and reach an earliest settlement over the dispute to their satisfaction.

The Ministry of Transport, however, has concealed itself behind a political consultation process, ignoring the ILO advice; not only it has evaded any responsibilities, but also it has imposed controversial Four-Party Agreement against the Kokuro union. The ministry’s conduct can never be accepted.

We, the Tosodan of Kokuro, are determined to fight until a final victory of “Cancellation of Dismissal and Restitution of Workers to Local Job Sites of JR firms’, demanding their responsibilities for unfair labor acts of the JR and the government inflicted on ourselves.

We here appeal you to understand the issue, asking you for kind cooperation and support.

THE TOSODAN STATIONED IN TOKYO TO DEMAND CANCELLATION OF FOUR-PARTY

DECLEARATION, ‘JR FIRMS ARE EXEMPT FROM LEGAL RESPOSIBILITIES’