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History The History of RENGO The Japanese labor movement began around the end of the 19th century. From that time onward, unions and their members made long and heroic efforts to strengthen themselves. However, at the time of the Second World War and the years leading up to it, the labor movement was forced to cease its activities due to severe repression by the Japanese military. Following the end of the war in 1945, the labor movement was re-launched, and by 1950 it had organized a majority of Japanese workers. However, a division of national centers continued for decades. Beginning around the mid 1970s, moves toward unifying the divided labor movement gained momentum, and in 1982 the National Council of Trade unions in the Private Sector (ZENMIN ROKYO) was formed, setting the stage for the foundation of RENGO. 1987 November 20 Japanese Private Sector Trade Union Confederation (JPTUC-RENGO) formed 1989 November 20 Second Convention of JPTUC-RENGO November 21 Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO) inaugurated (78 affiliates and 8 million members) 1990   “Consultation Hotline” set up to respond to inquiries on problems faced by workers in smaller businesses and part-time workers May Local RENGOs formed in all 47 prefectures May RENGO “Peace Concert” September “Japanese Archipelago Cleaning Campaign” (nationwide united action) 1991 July National Campaign for Working Hour Reduction: Relaxation Caravan September RENGO Diet Members Council of launched (141 Diet members) November 21-22 2nd RENGO Biennial Convention 1992 May For the first time since the Tiananmen Incident, a RENGO mission visited China, the first among the national centers of developed nations, and held official talks with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) 1993 May First RENGO annual tree-planting ceremony held May Mass action, “Let's Go to the Diet to Realize Political Reform” (human chain tied around the Diet building) October 7-8 3rd RENGO Biennial Convention 1994 July “RENGO Forum on Policy and Politics” formed (274 policymakers attend) December "Joint Study Group for the Creation of New Industries and Employment” was announced to be launched in collaboration with Nikkeiren (Japan Federation of Employers' Associations). 1995 January-March Support activities and fund-raising implemented for victims of the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake October 5-6 4th RENGO Biennial Convention November RENGO International Cooperation Center launched 1996 February First overseas showing (in Paris) of “Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Exhibition” held in Paris, first time abroad 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 October Pep team formed to help RENGO realize demands for revisions in the Labor Standards Law (formed by some 140 intellectuals) October 2-3 5th RENGO Biennial Convention 1998 January "Gathering of Smaller Unions - Forum to Rectify Disparities"   "RENGO Eco-Life 21 Campaign" launched for energy conservation, reductions in the amount of wastes and efficient use of paper products October Walk-in by 10,000 petitioners to block proposed revisions of the Labor Standards Law 1999 October 14 Ceremony to Commemorate RENGO’s 10th Anniversary October 14-15 6th RENGO Biennial Convention 2000   WORKNET Co. Ltd. established, a RENGO-funded corporation offering job placement and worker-dispatch services 2001 January “RENGO's Declaration for the 21st Century” announced, aiming at the development of a welfare society centered on labor May “Mass Action by 10 Million Workers: Get Rid of This Administration!” staged, with themes of "Breaking through the Crisis of Employment and Workers' Lives" and "Change the Administration” August 1st "RENGO Summer Top Seminar" held October 4-5 7th RENGO Biennial Convention 2002 April Mass action, “We Can No Longer Endure—We Won't be Deceived" October “Fair Treatment for Part-Time Workers! Citizens Congress to Support Part-Time Workers” formed 2003 October 3-4 8th RENGO Biennial Convention 2004 April A demand was made to PM Koizumi for Urgent Pension System Reform August Forum for NGO-Trade Union in International Cooperation started towards realizing UN Millennium Development Goals November FY2004 Fall Activities on "Abolish Unpaid Overtime" was endorsed December The 18th ICFTU World Congress was held in Miyazaki 2005 Jan.-Apr. Collection of signatures started to support The 2005 Review Conference on the Parties to the Treaty on NPT May Call for Nuclear Disarmament at UN General Assembly Hall August Launched a campaign to oppose a tax increase targeted at employed workers October 9th RENGO Biennial Convention was held in Tokyo - PRINT

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