1. RENGO’s top priority is to expand its organization to create a trade union that can earn the trust and respect of all working people. The RENGO Headquarters, affiliates and Local RENGOs will make concerted efforts toward this end. In particular, RENGO will focus on part-time, fixed-term, contract and agency workers, and employees in smaller and local enterprises, in order to strengthen the social influence of the RENGO movement.

2. RENGO will work to put an end to the trend of declining membership and achieve a net increase by September 2009, with the goal to expand the membership again to seven million as soon as possible. For this purpose, each affiliate will set a goal for expanding membership (for example, a 10% increase) and the “4th Action Plan 21” will be formulated. A concrete extended action plan for affiliates and Local RENGOs will be confirmed at the 51st Central Committee Meeting.

3. In order to further promote organizational expansion, RENGO will accumulate and utilize information on unorganized enterprises, cooperate more closely with affiliates and Local RENGOs, and share information with them.

4. The understanding and sympathy of union members are essential for achieving organizational expansion. Affiliates will encourage enterprise-based unions to assert their influence and strengthen their functions, including majority representation, in order to promote solidarity among workers at the same workplace.

5. In order to support part-time, fixed-term, agency workers etc., RENGO will establish a unit for informal workers,” a department of Non-Regular workers in the office”(provisional title), with comprehensive functions, including providing information, carrying out social campaigns, labor consultancy services, improving working conditions, and supporting negotiations.

6. In order to address problems stemming from the increase in foreign workers, including issues involving the “practical training system” and Brazilians of Japanese extraction, RENGO will work with Local RENGOs to establish model “labor consultancy offices for foreigners” to examine the issue of organizing foreign workers.

7. To promote a trade union movement that is rooted and visible in local communities, RENGO will carry out the “reforms of Local RENGOs and local councils” confirmed at the 9th Regular Convention in 2005. Local RENGOs will clarify the division of roles with affiliates, establish activities and projects that can respond to community demands, and place priority on supporting non-regular workers, labor consultancy services and expanding union membership, supporting trade unions at smaller and local enterprises, realization of needed policies and programs, and political programs.

8. To support labor consultation services and union formation for workers in smaller and local enterprises, RENGO will work to provide workers with access to a trade union near the workplace. For this purpose, all Local RENGOs will found a local union that individual workers can join. Moreover, local councils will, if possible, promote the establishment of a branch of the local union or a “local council union” to support negotiations for solving problems and to act as a base for local workers.

9. RENGO will strengthen the activities of 106 model local councils established as a first phase in 2006. Specifically, In order to carry out organizational expansion in local areas, support unorganized workers and trade unions at smaller and local enterprises, RENGO will promote the provision of one-stop services through partnerships with the Japan Federation of Senior Citizens and Retired Citizens Organizations, ROFUKUKYO (Association of Workers Welfare), Labour Banks, ZENROSAI (National Federation of Workers and Consumers Insurance Cooperatives) and other organizations as well as NPOs/NGOs. RENGO will also strengthen its networking function, including through links between Local RENGOs and local councils. The activities of the local councils will help pave the way for the second and third phases of implementation. At the same time, RENGO will further discuss necessary financial resources at the “special committee for local activity follow-up,” “organization committee” and “committee on general affairs and finance.”

10. RENGO will strengthen the trade union movement at the local level by encouraging enterprise-based unions and branches of affiliates to actively participate in the activities of Local RENGOs and local councils. For this purpose, RENGO will continue to consult with affiliates to encourage those that have not joined Local RENGOs to join.

11. It is important for people to have a full understanding of the value of labor and the rights of working people. But this has not been given sufficient emphasis in school education. Therefore, RENGO will continue to cooperate with universities by donating courses, as well as work with relevant organizations to actively promote labor education at universities and high schools.

12. From a medium-to long-term perspective, RENGO will train human resources, including organizers, to strengthen and expand the organization. In particular, RENGO will work with affiliates to hold seminars and workshops with a view to acquiring and nurturing staff for Local RENGOs.

13. To revitalize union activities and to promote exchanges and development among young workers, RENGO will establish a committee, tentatively named the Youth Activity Committee, under RENGO’s organization committee. This committee will act as a coordinator for information exchanges among Youth Committees at Local RENGOs, and will provide opportunities for young workers at affiliates and unorganized enterprises to interact with each other, and then incorporate their opinions into the RENGO movement.

14. In order to facilitate (1) information exchanges and cooperation in preparation for the upcoming Spring Struggle for a Better Life, (2) the establishment and implementation of a new industrial policy, and (3) the participation of independent trade unions and/or unorganized workers in RENGO, affiliates will lead the Industrial Liaison Council and strive to strengthen its role and function. RENGO will also encourage affiliates with enterprise-based unions in the same industry to actively participate in the Industrial Liaison Council.

15. Local RENGOs will also set up Industrial Liaison Councils, if necessary, to promote the exchange of information on working conditions and to implement industrial policy.

16. The aim of the Lifelong Union Membership initiative is the creation of a local system for “lifelong assistance” for retirees, workers in smaller and local enterprises, and part-time and other non-regular workers. It includes participation in various activities, cooperation with voluntary welfare programs, and networking social action programs. To implement the initiative, RENGO will carry out discussions in its Organization Committee, and draw up a final draft plan by the next Regular Convention.

17. At the both central and local levels, RENGO will cooperate with and provide support to the Japan Federation of Senior Citizens and Retired Citizens Organizations so that it can strengthen its activities and expand its organization.

18. With the aim to promote world peace, RENGO will: (1) continue to work toward the consolidation and reduction of U.S. military bases located in Japan and a thorough review of the Japan-U.S. State of Forces Agreement; (2) devote more energy to projects for abolishing nuclear weapons in collaboration with the Japan Congress Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs and the National Council for Peace and Against Nuclear Weapons and for supporting atomic-bomb survivors; and (3) promote campaigns for the return of the Northern Territories to Japan, visa-free travel to them, and the conservation of Japanese memorial structures on Etorofu Island. RENGO will also call for an ultimate solution to the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea.

19. In promoting these peace activities, RENGO will not only cooperate with relevant organizations, but also pursue a joint struggle with a broad range of organizations. In particular, RENGO will work together with ITUC on international issues. RENGO will continue to set the period from June to September for a nationwide campaign of peace drives, holding rallies for peace in Okinawa (in June), Hiroshima and Nagasaki (in August) and Nemuro (in September). RENGO will also take urgent action if a new problem arises.

20. RENGO will carry out the Fund-Raising Campaign with Love, as well as more closely cooperate with volunteers and NPOs. In particular, RENGO will engage in both international support activities and social action programs at the local level in close partnership with organizations donated by the Fund- Raising Campaign with Love.