Why we'll stop all ports on 12 March

The deregulation policy announced by the Ministry of Transport in December is still under discussion, but the Government is expected to propose a plan and implement it in the next 3-5 years. Its framework was set by an academic report. The strike set for 12 March opposes the report and the deregulation policy developing from it.

• Stevedoring businesses currently need a Government license. The report proposes abolishing the license requirement.
• The rate for stevedoring, as charged to shippers, is currently set by Government. The report proposes shippers fix rates directly with stevedoring companies.
• The berth operator is currently controlled by Local Government. The report proposes private control. For example, container terminals are currently rented from Local Government by shipping companies. The report proposes that shippers be allowed to buy berths. Local Government is currently the Port Authority. While the report doesn't specify a new Authority, Itoh fears the development of private Port Authorities as in the UK.
• While the report doesn't mention it directly, Itoh fears the Dockers Act (1966, revised 1989) may be abolished.

Current Framework

There are 6 major ports: Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe, and Kanmon. Of the 70,000 dockers in Japan, around 50% work in the major ports with Yokohama and Kobo having 6-7,000 each.

1,300 stevedoring companies operate in Japan, 3-400 in Yokohama alone.

Working conditions are negotiated separately in each company with each union. Zenkowan, the union to which Itoh belongs, has 500 contracts.

Companies are not allowed to discriminate in wages or holidays between different unions. But other workers' rights like health and safety, manning levels etc can vary between unions within a single company.

Under the Preliminary Agreement System introduced in 1980, based on ILO Convention 137 (1973), if a company wishes to introduce a new transport measure they must consult. Japanese and Foreign shippers consult with the Japan Harbour Transport Association, while the JHTA consults with unions. Some shippers now want direct negotiations with unions.

Itoh was unsure just why the US Federal Maritime Commission had introduced penalties of $100,000 on each Japanese ship docking in the US (the FMC refers to "restrictive port practices"). He thought the key US objection was that the JHTA tells shippers which stevedoring company to use when a new facility is set up. Shippers want the freedom to select terminals or set up terminals - as proposed in the deregulation report.

Unions

Zenkowan, the union to which Itoh belongs, was established in 1946. It was not broken during the historic assault on Japanese unions which established a system of company unions in the 1950's. In 1959 a conference of all Asia Pacific dockers unions led to support for establishing a Dockers Act. Some countries boycotted Japanese ships, some Asia-Pacific dockers held stop- work meetings, and some stuffed solidarity messages into cargo destined for Japan.

In 1968, containerisation led different Japanese unions to come together in a fight for holidays. Previously workers were required to complete all cargo handling before going home, on all public holidays except New Year's Day!

Negotiations began in 1970 leading to the 1972 agreement, and dockers established Zenkoku Kowan.

Liverpool

• The casualisation of dock labour throughout the UK after 1989, except in Liverpool;
• The privatised Port Authority, which had been a civil authority for centuries. Since control was privatised, no-one knows how many casuals are employed nationally in the UK.
• The sacking of Liverpool dockers for refusal to cross a picket line. This sacking would not happen in Japan, under its current system.

Itoh fears "the Liverpool situation will be our future in Japan. So we fight to oppose deregulation."

The unions want a new Dockers Act to register all dockers, and guarantee job security.

Korea