The New Year Appeal
for the year of 2000
A New Year has begun and
this year will be shifting us from 20th century to 21st century.
We must blow off dark clouds hanging around us and create our
own new era.
In our country, economy
has been now hovering, the political situation has been thrown
into confusion and the society has been collapsed.
Under the worst recession
since the War, we can are still lost to find our way out. The
employment crisis and the decrease in income have been prolonged.
The sense of insecurity about employment and the future has not
been yet eased.
Employment policies are
of no use although companies have been going on restructuring
and the government is supporting it. The revitalization policy
standing on the market principle sacrifices both employment and
life and puts social bases in danger, and does not solve the
crisis. To build up the labour-centered welfare society is the
only way that gives the sense of being secured, safe and stable
to the people.
RENGO is tackling with
the Spring Struggle of the year 2000. While the spring struggle
is the way to protect our life, it is also helping Japanese economy
recover from the vicious circle of deflation. All the trade unions
affiliated to RENGO, including those of big enterprises and small
and medium-sized enterprises, those in public and private sectors
and those in the capital and the locals, will break out of the
severe situation. We must go forward the establishment of the
work rule leading to wage increase, working hour reduction, right
policies and the establishment of work and employment rules.
The year of 2000 is the
year of election. The government taken the lead by the LDP brought
about the failure in policies and the insecurity of the people's
living. It pushes ahead the Diet management by numerical power
and puts democracy in danger. Now there are loud calls by the
people for the political change. RENGO struggles to realize our
policy demand in next election and aims at the political change.
Towards 21st century, RENGO
as a national center for workers will tackle lots of issues such
as the arrival of an aging society, economic globalization, the
change of industrial structure and global environment problems,
and will create the new time by our own action.
1 January 2000 |
On 6 January RENGO held the New Year party in
Tokyo. 1500 people from labour, business and political circles joined
and celebrated the opening of the labour movement of the New Year. Labour
Minister, Mr. Makino and Nikkeiren's Vice Chairman, Mr. Suzuki, gave
greetings. Besides them, Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Japan,
Mr. Hatoyama, Chairperson of the new Komei Party, Mr. Kanzaki, Vice
Chairperson of the Social Democratic Party, Mr. Ito, and General Secretary
of the Liberal Party, Mr. Fujii, joined the party.