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History
Path to the Birth of RENGO
| 1976 | A Conference of Trade Unions for the Furtherance of Policies (SEISUI KAIGI) formed by 16 industrial federations with 3 million members. |
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| 1981 | A private sector-based "Preparatory Committee for the Unification of Laborers" formed by 39 industrial federations with 3.8 million members. |
| 1982 | National Council of Trade Unions in the Private Sector (ZENMIN ROKYO) formed by 41 industrial federations with 4.25 million members, setting the stage for the foundation of RENGO. |
| 1987 | Japanese Private Sector Trade Union Confederation (JPTUC-RENGO) inaugurated, unifying private sector trade unions of SOHYO, DOMEI, CHURITSU ROREN, SHIN-SANBETSU and other independent federations. (62 affiliates with 5.55 million members) |
| 1989 | Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO) inaugurated, achieving the unification between private and public sector trade unions. (78 affiliates with 8 million members) |
Major Events in RENGO's History
| 1989 | November Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO) inaugurated.
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| 1990 | January "Labor Consultation Hotline" set up for workers in smaller businesses and part-time workers May Local RENGOs formed in all 47 prefectures September "Japanese Archipelago Cleaning Campaign" launched as a nationwide united action. |
| 1991 | July "National Campaign for Working Hour Reduction: Relaxation Caravan" September RENGO Diet Members Council launched with 141 Diet members |
| 1992 | May Official talks with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) resumed December Hosted ICFTU-APRO 15th Regional Congress in Tokyo |
| 1993 | May Mass action, "Let's Go to the Diet to Realize Political Reform", human chain around the Diet building |
| 1994 | July "RENGO Forum on Policy and Politics" formed (274 policy makers attended) December "Joint Study Group for the Creation of New Industries and Employment" launched in collaboration with Nikke iren (Japan Fe deration of Em ployers' Associations) |
| 1995 | Jan.-Mar. Support activities and fund-raising for victims of the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. November "RENGO International Cooperation Center" launched. |
| 1996 | February First overseas showing of "Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Exhibition" in Paris June Nationwide united action for gender equality legislation |
| 1997 | February "10-day Sit-in in front of the Diet" held to protest the proposed medical reform plan July "Forum on Women's Participation and Shorter Working Hours" held |
| 1998 | January "Gathering of Smaller Unions - Forum to Rectify Disparities" held October Walk-in by 10 thousand petitioners to block proposed revisions of the Labor Standards Law |
| 1999 | October Ceremony to commemorate RENGO's 10th Anniversary |
| 2000 | Jan.-Mar. Petition drive of 10 million signatures calling for pension reform, the reduction of healthcare costs and job creation November WORKNET C o. Ltd. established, a RENGO-funded corporation offering job placement and worker-dispatch services |
| 2001 | January "RENGO Declaration for the 21st Century" announced, aiming at the development of a welfare society centered on labor April Burma Office Japan established May Mass action by 10 Million Workers "Breaking through the Crisis of Employment and Workers' Lives: Change the Administration" staged |
| 2002 | April Mass action "We Can No Lon ger Endure―We Won't be Deceived" staged October "Citizens Congress to Support Part-Time Workers: Fair Treatment for Part-Time Workers!" formed |
| 2003 | November Nationwide campaign to eliminate unpaid overtime launched |
| 2004 | October Relief activities and fund-raising for the
Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake implemented December Hosted ICFTU 18th World Congress in Miyazaki |
| 2005 | Jan.-Apr. Signature-collection campaign aimed at the 2005 Review Conference on the Parties to the Treaty on NPT May "Action calling for Nuclear Disarmament at UN General Assembly Hall" organized August "Campaign to oppose a tax increase targeted at employed workers" launched |
| 2006 | January "Simultaneous nationwide campaign to oppose a tax increase targeted at employed workers" started June "TOKYO Rally to correct disparities" held with 4,600 participants |
| 2007 | Jan.-Feb. Public Dialogues on correcting disparities held nationwide July The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won the Upper House election October The Department of Non-Regular Employment established at the HQ |
| 2008 | October "World Day for Decent Work" rally organized with 2,000 workers participating in Tokyo December Year-end hotline for laid-off workers |
| 2009 | March "Tripartite Agreement for the Realization of Employment Stability and Job Creation" signed May "Urgent Rally to free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratic activists" held August Change of government following the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) landslide victory in the general election |
| 2010 | September ITUC-Asia Pacific Labour Network (ITUC/APLN)16th Conference held in Tokyo; participants met with Prime Minister Naoto KAN, chair of the APEC meeting. |
| 2011 | March The Great East Japan Earthquake hit; RENGO sent volunteer workers to the affected areas. |
| 2012 | January "RENGO Town Meetings: for a secure society based on work," held May Plan for "RENGO with 10 million members" endorsed September "RENGO New Energy Strategy" endorsed December Coalition government of LDP and Komeito formed |
| 2013 | April "STOP unequal society! Campaign for a better living" launched October Organizational change at HQ: "Designated team for organizing " and "Publicity/Education Division" introduced |
| 2014 | Sep.-Dec. Relayed campaign traveling through all prefectures of Japan against deregulation of worker’s protection |
| 2015 | April Institute for Solidarity-based Society of Hosei University(ISS-HU) commonly known as “RENGO Graduate School” launched August Big rally and surround the Diet by chain of 14000 people with the strong voice, “No to current administration” |
| 2016 | Apr-May The Kumamoto Earthquake hit; RENGO supported volunteer activities and fund-raising. August First survey in Japan for "LGBT in workplace" |
| 2017 | September "Labour-Management Symposium for Work Style Reforms" was co-hosted by RENGO and major 4 economic organizations October RENGO held the 15th Biennial Convention |