Photo: Pres. Sasamori, V.P. Hattori and others at the press conference.

The Spring Struggle 2002 has entered the peak period. On March 13, when the major metal industry unions received their answers from their companies, RENGO held a press conference at its headquarters. President Sasamori appraised each union's efforts to secure amounts equivalent to regular pay raises while avoiding pressure from companies to cut pay, despite the "extremely regrettable" severe results dealt to those unions which had demanded base-scale increases. From here on RENGO will try to impact the securing of amounts equivalent to regular pay raises for those unions facing upcoming negotiations.

At the press conference, although Sasamori stated that, "it is extremely regrettable that the unions demanding salary hikes were, with a few exceptions, unable to achieve their goals," he appraised each union's efforts to "secure amounts equivalent to regular pay raises for individuals in this current situation where pay cuts are naturally expected." Also he emphasized that securing amounts equivalent to regular pay raises would lead to pay increases for everyone.

He strongly criticized management for not changing its 'follow-the-leader mentality'—base salary raises out of the question, wage cuts expected—saying, "it is crucial that labor and management cooperate for Japanese economic recovery." He also shared his idea that "if management maintains this attitude, we must consider countermeasures for labor-management relation problems."
Sasamori also made reference to the future state of the Spring Struggle. "This year's Spring Struggle gave us an opportunity to think about to what kind of system should replace employment, the wage system, work hours, and other labor conditions in total." He indicated that RENGO would step into a new type phase for the 21st century that is different from its conventional responses.