Hello friend, All the 5 Japanese hostages in Iraq have been released! Thank you very much for your warm hearted messages and co-operation. US force, however, is still attacking Iraqi people with the help of Japan’s government. It is our time now to answer to Iraqis with our own actions: Japan’s troop out of Iraq! All the troops out! Give Iraq back to Iraqis! Let me send you the latest report of Japan’s movement here: There are some photos, and 4 articles from our Doro-Chiba railway trade union. The first two articles are for basic fighting, and the latter 2 are for recreation and union’s family members. Please check’em!
Hiroshi Kanba japan2world@hotmail.com
http://stopwar.fc2web.com
PROTEST ON 9 APRIL: IN FRONT OF THE DIET
Workers and citizens from “Block the Road to War! One Million Signature Campaign“ spoke out: Save the lives of captured three! And don’t kill Iraqi people! Japan’s troop out of Iraq!
RALLY ON 9 APRIL: “NO TO DISPATCH TROOP TO IRAQ! SAVE THE PEACE AND LIVES”
Workers filled and packed the Hibiya Outdoor Music Hall and shouted: Japan’s Self Defence out of Iraq! The rally was called by “Land, Sea, Air and Longshore Workers’ Trade Unions“.
JOINT RALLY ON 11 APRIL: NO TO “CONSPIRACY CRIME BILL” AND POLICE REINFORCEMENT!
“Conspiracy Crime Bill“ is really bad and even worse than Security Maintaining Act during the war and Subversive Activities Prevention Act after the war.
Steve Zeltzer, Campaign Against Taft-Hartley, Repression and Privatization, gave a speech about fighting in the US.
13 APRIL: Withdraw the dismissals of JNR One Thousand Forty Seven!
Sacked workers from 3 different railway trade unions (Doro-Chiba, Kokuro and Zendoro) stood on the same stage and vowed the victory.
Sogidan, sacked workers in DC, gave a report that DC union has fought 3 waves of strikes and won a great victory.
MANEGEMENTS REINFORCED - DON’T LET THEM BREAK OUR MAKUHARI BRANCH
The Daily Doro-Chiba No.5863 (16 April 2004) Source: http://www.doro-chiba.org/nikkan_dc/n2004_01_06/n5863.htm
LET’S FIGHT BACK WITH THE UNITY WE HAVE BUILT IN SPRING LABOUR OFFENSIVE
Chiba district of Japan Railway (JR) Company has finished personnel changes in management till 1 April.
The important thing is that they shifted district chief manager and increased the number of deputy chief from 1 to 2. District chief of Matsudo district became the new district chief in Makuhari. The 2nd deputy chief was dispatched from Chiba district. Their intention is quite obvious. Makuhari branch has been one of the core sections of Doro-Chiba’s strike and we maintained the “power balance” at work place despite of huge pressure. So, they want somehow to split us and destroy the union.
WORKERS CUT IN HALF, MANAGEMENT REINFORCED
Numbers of management have been changed depending on the situation: In 1981, we had about 385 workers and 15 managements in Makuhari rail district. When states run Japan National Railway (JNR) was privatized and divided into 6 companies in 1987, numbers of workers were cut into nearly half, about 230, but management was reinforced. They had 16 in 1988 and 17 in 1990. They did it because “JNR Settlement Corporation” was about to disband in 3 years, and members of Doro-Chiba and Kokuro who were shifted there despite of their opposition were fighting against “the 2nd dismissal”.
Then, they had to reduce the number of management under the rationalization and downsizing. But as we fought against “Senior system” installed in 2000, and against subcontracting of inspecting and station works and actually stopped it, they reinforced management again to 16 persons in 2001.
As new upkeep system was installed, the frequency of coach inspection became quite fewer, stuff was reduced, and old-aged workers retired, the numbers of workers in the district became 160. This is less than half of JNR period, and 70 less than 1987, just after privatization. Even so, management numbers have not been reduced in proportion with the number of workers, but rather, they have been increased in some occasions. It is merely because they want to crush the unity of Doro-Chiba union.
And now, they started new manage system: twin deputy chief managers. They have increased ordinary managers so far, but this twin deputy is the very first.
They enforcedly shifted Mr. Shigesawa, vice-president of DC, and Mr. Osada, organizing secretary, from Makuhari branch. But the unity of the branch was rather enriched through the fighting. Makuhari branch has struck as a core fighter in the 3 waves and 50 days of strikes, and opened the way for the victory for the first time after the privatization. The bosses want to crush this wonderful unity and fight.
They are afraid of us. It is them who are in crisis. If we fight the very basic fight in our work place, we can destroy their intention.
Let’s fortify all the branches including Makuhari!
Don’t let them destroy our Makuhari branch!
Let’s fight back!
THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF DORO-CHIBA UNION
The Daily Doro-Chiba No.5859 (8 April 2004)Source: http://www.doro-chiba.org/nikkan_dc/n2004_01_06/n5859.htm
COME ALONG TO OUR ANNIVERSARY EVENT ON 25 APRIL
On 30 March 1979, Doro-Chiba union was split from Doro Head Office and became independent. It has been 25 years since we formed newly born Doro-Chiba. We have not stopped nor paused for a quarter century and kept fighting against capitalist attacks in the tough and negative stream of trade union movement. We have defended our members, our mutual trust and unity, and pride of workers with the same passion in 25 years ago.
WE HAVE FOUGHT AND BEEN UNITED!
For the passed 25 years, attacks have been really severe. But we have never chosen the way to give up. As we fought for independent, as we struck twice against JNR’s privatization and division in 1987, we have fought against Goliath without hesitation in order to defend the unity of workers. That is why now we have genuine unity and believe that we can win as long as we keep our unity.
OUR PRIDE
We have not just fought against JNR authorities and JR capitalists, our direct enemy, but we have kept watching at a whole situation of society and trade union movement. We have understood that everything in the society has something to do with workers, and we have to tackle with them in order to rebuild workers movement as class.
And beside these, we have built the union movement which each member is proud of themselves as its member.
UNITY DEFENDED
It was really important that we fought against ex-Doro Head Office under the control of Kakumaru group who tried to physically break up Chiba branch and its members. And we struck against the privatization. But it was not our A to Z.
Kakumaru group has had a cosy relationship with the boss, used million pounds of money, crushed our hall and workplaces, terrorized and attacked our members, and done anything to smash our union, but we have kept fighting back. We have had 40 members who were unlawfully dismissed at the time of privatization, but defended them for 17 years and still kept struggling against capitalist and authority. This is what we are the most proud of.
THE TIME HAS COME! FIGHT AND ACHIEVE THE FRUIT!
Dispatch troop to Iraq, enactment of National Emergency Acts, attacks on workers under Okuda Vision, dismantlement of lifetime employment system, corruption of pension system, the destruction of right to live, the difficulty of workers’ situation... and now, finally, we started to have earthquake of political situation like the Spring Labour Offensive this year and 20 March anti-war demonstration.
Now, we also need to take a large step forward. We have challenged with 50-day strike in the Spring Offensive, and gained great achievement. We have renewed our resolution.
ANOTHER STEP FORWARD
Spring board for the new era is within our 25-year battle. Fight back against attacks by capitalists, bosses, and their limb, Kakumaru group. Enough is enough!
Recruit new members and enrich the union power! Rebuild the fighting tradition in every workplace! This is the issue we have to tackle with now. Let’s review 25-year struggle of Doro-Chiba, and learn the essence of it! Come along to the 25th anniversary reception of Doro-Chiba on 25 April, 2pm, at the grand hall in DC Hall.
COME ALONG TO SHELLFISH GATHERING
The Daily Doro-Chiba No.5860 (9 April 2004)Source: http://www.doro-chiba.org/nikkan_dc/n2004_01_06/n5860.htm
Our union has the 4th “UNITE! SHELLFISH GATHERING” at Egawa seashore at Kisaradsu. It is co-hosted by the Head Office’s Circle Convention and the Family Society, and cooperated by Kisaradsu Branch of our union. Doro-Chiba has staged 3 waves of strikes in the Spring Labour Offensive, and opened up a new vista for enforcedly shifted colleagues to their original workplace and position. And we are in the very middle of fighting against reactionary bills including National Emergency related 7 bills.
We appreciate our union members’ every day fighting and family members’ co-operation. Please use this occasion for refreshment and recharge your life batteries. Let’s enjoy it!
SHELLFISH GATHERING
Date: Saturday 8 May
(Detail omission)
DORO-CHIBA FAMILY SOCIETY HOLD ITS 16TH GENERAL MEETING
The Daily Doro-Chiba No.5860 (9 April 2004)Source: http://www.doro-chiba.org/nikkan_dc/n2004_01_06/n5860.htm
The Doro-Chiba Family Society (DCFS) held its 16th General Meeting at DC Hall on 7 March. Mr. Sato, president of DCFS gave an opening speech and said: “Together, keep supporting the DC!” Yasuhiro Tanaka, president of Doro-Chiba addressed the meeting as one of the guests. Report for progress since the last GM, course of actions from now on, final result on 2003 fiscal year and budget for 2004 fiscal year, and audit report have been proposed, and approved.
Then, there was Talk Corner with Mr. Nakano, adviser and ex-president of DC union. Everything that has happened around us including pension problem have been talked.
DCFS has 2 studying courses per year, and join the event held by DC. All the family members of all the branches please don’t hesitate! Come along and join us!
DORO-CHIBA (DC): National Railway Motive Power Union of CHIBA
Email: doro-chiba@doro-chiba.org
Web: http://www.doro-chiba.org
English page at:
http://www.doro-chiba.org/english/english.htm
Read automatic English translation at:
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Read automatic Korean translation at:
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[Labour-J-info] generated by Hiroshi Kanba japan2world@hotmail.com http://stopwar.fc2web.com
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