Who is the best trade union? December 5, 14:43

Organizations and labor unions that protect vulnerable workers. Is it in?
There are now a few people who say yes, but many people think that they are far away.
Japan's largest union central organization "Union".
On November 21st, the 30th anniversary of the formation was reached, but the tone of newspapers and television that was reported was severe.
“Significance of existence” “Hazeful presence”
I searched now whether Owakon is no longer worth it or who the labor union is good for.
(Yasuhiro Yamada)

At the "Uber Eats" site

"Sorry I made you wait!"

Downtown Ikebukuro, Tokyo.
In the afternoon of November when the autumn breeze blows, there was a middle-aged man delivering a set meal on a motorcycle.
Toshiaki Tsuchiya (43), a delivery agent for food delivery service “Uber Eats”.

In July this year, Tsuchiya was injured for two weeks during an accident during delivery on a motorcycle.
However, at that time, there was no compensation for the deliveryman and he had to rest his job.
He said he was angry with the email he received from the company two days later.

“If something like this happens again, your account may be permanently suspended.”

So Tsuchiya relied on the labor union.
In October, a labor union was formed with about 20 Uber Eat deliveries.
Tsuchiya also joined.

Workers like Tsuchiya who undertake work on the Internet on a one-off basis are called “gig workers”.

One smartphone is increasing, especially young people because they can work at their favorite time.
On the other hand, work accident insurance is not applied because it works as a “single business owner” who does not enter into an employment contract with the company.
The company does not protect and is self-responsible.

It is estimated that there are approximately 1.7 million freelance workers like Tsuchiya nationwide (according to the Labor Policy Research and Training Organization). The issue is whether these people should be treated as "employees" and how to improve working conditions.

At the end of November, Mr. Tsuchiya received a unilateral notice saying “Reduced Reward”. We are just looking for distrust in the company.
“If you have a problem or accident and want to talk to someone, it ’s great to have a union.”

What about the labor union?

Workers are weak in individuals. The need for an organization that will be the foundation of that should not change with the times.
The labor union has played that role. It was created to work together to negotiate maintenance and improvement of working conditions.
It is guaranteed by the constitution.

However, at present, 17% of the workers are in the labor union. It's a very low impression.
I am a member of the NHK trade union, but some companies do not have a union, and there are many employees who do not have a union.

I asked a friend who wasn't a member of the union.
Three people in their twenties to thirties are group employees and freelance system engineers.

What kind of image is the union?
“Union fee is collected from monthly salary”
"Impression that it is impossible to appeal only for rights"
“After all, the salary is not raised by management's efforts.”

Why aren't you in a union?
"I don't feel the benefits"
"I don't remember getting help."

On the other hand, my freelance friend continued.
“But I quit the office worker and realized that I had no compensation since I became freelance. Recently, I'm wondering whether to join the union…”

Glory and corruption

Japan's largest central organization, created by labor unions, is the “confederation”.

On November 21, 1989, a general review centered on unions in government offices = Japan Trade Union General Council and an alliance centered on trade unions of private enterprises = the All Japan Labor Union, bringing together union members Established by about 8 million people.

In November, just 30 years have passed since the formation.

The first president, Akira Yamagishi, was deeply involved in the establishment of the Hosokawa administration by non-private forces in 1993, with a thick pipe with the political world.

In 2009, it promoted the birth of the Hatoyama administration and realized two changes of administration.

Since the 1990s, “Political and Labor Conferences” were held regularly, where the Prime Minister and the President of the Union met. Directly communicated requests regarding wages and labor policies.

It was a time when the alliance showed influence and was shining.

However, the wage increase rate has fallen due to the recession. In 1989, when the alliance was established, it was at a high level of 5.17%, but in the 2000s it has been around 1-2%.

The number of union members has been reduced to 6.6 million at one time, and then picked up slightly to 7 million. The target 10 million members are far away.

Many non-regular workers did not join the union, and the Union became a “full-time club”.
(In the figure below, the blue bar graph is the non-regular rate, and the red line is the union rate of the labor union)

The executives of the Allied Tokyo talk as follows, with their own reflections.
“The decline in the organization rate is due to the weak efforts to manage new part-time people and non-regular workers, just like a regular employee club. I think it is the responsibility of our labor union that we have not been able to respond to what has become. "

Abe 1 is a strange thing

After the launch of the second Abe administration in 2012, the “government spring struggle”, in which the government requests the business community to directly raise wages, has become established. Political conferences are no longer held.

With this “Abe 1 strong” political situation going on, changes are taking place in the Union, which has been aiming to change the government by non-Liberal power.

According to federal executives, a certain percentage of union members of the younger age group wrote “supporting the Liberal Democratic Party” in a questionnaire conducted within the organization. The younger generations say that the current situation should continue, or that the Abe administration will raise wages.

It ’s like air

How do you see this situation? I bumped into the top leader of the Union, Kozu.

“After all, the official residence is good. To be precise, only the term“ government spring fight ”has become established. When looking at the whole world, wage increases are also seen for those who do not have a labor union. I'm wondering if it really spreads out. ''

“Compared to management, workers are overwhelmingly weak. You have to be united and organized. I want you to know that you have the right to unity. Trade unions may be like the air. No. When you get thinner or lost, you can't live.

He stressed the need for a political force in the workers' position.

“1. The long-lasting politics are badly affected. The ruling party and the opposition party are talking closely and moving away from consensus building. The future image of social security remains unclear. If the ruling and opposition parties antagonize and a responsible political debate goes on for the people, this will not happen. "

Spread wings

To show its presence again, the Union is now working on a new initiative.

The “Non-regular Labor Center” has been set up to support part-time workers and dispatched workers.

In addition to non-regular workers, they also embarked on improved treatment of freelancers and foreign workers.
As the number of non-regular workers exceeds 20 million and work styles diversify like Uber Eats, the aim is to extend the wing to those who have not been able to join the labor union so far and expand the base of the organization. .

At the same time, we will focus on activities that have returned to the starting point of "facing workers' concerns."

Labor consultation through SNS such as LINE and Twitter.

SNS is familiar to young people, and has the advantage that documents like salary details can be sent as images.
"I am suffering from power harassment"
“I cannot retire early”
"Service overtime"
For example, 15,000 consultations are received every year when combined with telephone and email.

The person in charge says, “It is our“ significance of existence ”that helps people who are troubled at work even if they are not a member of the Union. Work improvement begins by consulting without falling asleep.”

Dehatchment from “full-time employee club”

Chairman Kozu says that the union's significance is increasing in this era of diversifying work styles.

“I think the role of trade unions is increasing. At the time of establishment, the majority were full-time employees, but in the last 20 years there have been a variety of ways of working. And I think the needs are growing tremendously. ''

“For those who are not protected by the umbrella of trade unions and those who are not related to the labor unions, there is little sense of expectations for the unions, so how to overcome them is a challenge for the future.”

Beyond the 30-year milestone

In the last 30 years, it is hard to say that the Union has always responded to the changing times.

What about the next 30 years?

The number of working elderly and foreign workers will increase in addition to gig workers, and with the advent of AI and robots, the workplace will change dramatically.

Listen to the earnest voices of each worker and face their worries. If you stick to that attitude, you can demonstrate its presence to whom it is. The real value will be questioned from now on.

Yasuhiro Yamada, reporter of political department
Joined in 2012. Political department from the Kyoto Bureau. After the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare club from summer 19th. Covered alliance and pension reform.