History

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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

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