Workers’ struggles in Japan and the
United States coincided on June 29 at the Kobe annual shareholders’ meting
at the Kobe International Conference Center in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture,
Japan.
UE’s blue flags were hoisted despite a
downpour and UE letters were distributed to shareholders, as Japanese union
members who have their own fight with the multinational corporation took up
the cause of UE Local 758. Employed by Kobe’s
Glastic subsidiary, these Jefferson, Ohio UE members are pressing the company
to settle a first contract.
Some 20 workers who have faced
discrimination in wages and promotion because of their work for better
conditions at Kobe facilities wore colorful UE-made posters demanding that
Kobe stop its abuse of workers’ rights. Speakers, including Zenroren leaders
Kazuo Fujita and Masuo Kato, called on shareholders to press management to
immediately begin negotiating with UE representatives and to take steps to
settle all outstanding disputes — to show corporate responsibility both
within and outside Japan.
UE News - 07/99
