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November 7, 2004 Apeal
OSADA Toshiyuki
DORO-CHIBA(National Railways Motive
Power Union of Chiba)
November 7, 2004 Apeal
History faces a serious turning point witnessing arrival of the era of
a mass unemployment and war. Workers across the world are in the midst of
terrible storm. However, workers are raising a fist of anger and ready to
stand up realizing their strength they have. What is needed now is to
reform the current conditions of unions and to revitalize the
class-oriented labor movement.
Through the presidential election and
the reelection of G. W. Bush the world is split into two camps.
Crisis-ridden rulers of the world are battling against each other to
survive. It is high time for the workers all over the world to unite and
fight.
Within this one year the political circumstances have
deteriorated drastically, that is, dispatch of Self-Defense Forces to Iraq
and the enacting of the emergency law for war. Japan is now again baring
her vicious fangs as a war-waging state. Actually the Koizumi registration
intends to put on the agenda the plan to revise the Fundamental Law for
Education and Constitution for the worse in the year of 2005. Bush and
Koizumi as well are aiming to strengthen overwhelmingly the role of the US
bases in Japan and the Mutual Security Alliance for War.
Though, the
struggle by education workers against the enforcement of "Hinomaru"(Rising
Sun) and "Kimigayo"(His Majesty's Reign) caused a big sympathy throughout
the nation. In Okinawa the new struggle has been fought seeking the
immediate closure of US bases and the stopping of construction of a new
base. We demand: "Stop the revision of the Fundamental Law on Education
and of the constitution!" "Withdraw Self Defense Forces from Iraq
immediately!" "Remove all the military bases from Okinawa and elsewhere!
Koizumi government declared in its "large-boned policy" (Basic Policies
for Economic and Fiscal Management and Structural Reform) that it would
push ahead with the large-scale privatization and enforce the law of
jungle in every corner of the society. This is the policy to carry out the
very vision by Okuda (president of Japan Business Federation). He said,
"90% of workers in Japan must be turned into irregular workers". This is
nothing but a bare union busting. Privatization of the national postal
services and the reactionary reform of public servant system are planed to
eliminate the existence of unions inside of administrative organs and
power apparatuses from central government to local and district
administrations. Irregular workers, bankruptcy and dismissals have sharply
increased, bringing the result that household whose income does not reach
1.5 million yen per year has already exceeded 10%. In addition dismantling
of the social security system is going on rapidly.
The Koizumi
administration intends to destroy and eliminate the right to organize and
even the Trade Union Law is scheduled to be revised. A series of criminal
repression, civil injunction and claim for damages mean escalation of the
attack, attack to deny the practice of the right to bargain and the right
to strike. Furthermore new repressive laws such as introduction of Crime
of Conspiracy and revision of Law on Obstruction of Compulsory Execution
are put on the agenda.
The struggle for retraction of dismissal of 1047
National Railway Workers is now faced with a crucial phase. The national
leadership of the Kokuro (National Railway Workers' Union) wants to put an
end to the struggle, while the Tosodan and Sogidan, that is, the three
fighting groups of dismissed railway workers are strongly opposed to such
a submission; they have pursued the unification of fighting groups and
forces around the legal action against the Japan Railway Construction
Public Corporation.
We will never be defeated. We can hear voices of
anger everywhere. We will fight back through organizing the unity of
workers in each community and industry.
The workers all over the world
are now regaining the fighting power through international unity and
solidarity. The workers and mass across the world are fighting against the
imperialist rule named "Globalism" which brings war, poverty and mass
unemployment everywhere. In United States "Million Worker March" has begun
with an ambitious endeavor to create an independent workers' movement and
a history at the same time, getting over braking of AFL-CIO. Brothers and
Sisters of Korean Federation of Trade Unions (KCTU) are now about to
launch a general strike to stop the bill on irregular workers and to
prevent the FTA between Japan and South Korea, resisting the vehement
repression. Our struggle here in Japan is combined with these powerful and
future-building labor movements in these two countries.
We can
recognize clearly now that some movements go leftward while others go
rightward. We can recognize also that out of such disintegration the
fighting labor movement that surely breaks up the existing framework is
now gaining ground also in Japan. Today we swear the firm international
solidarity between workers of Japan, USA and South Korea. Today is the
very beginning of "Million Worker Movement" in Japan. Brothers and sisters
of Korean Federation of Trade Unions have achieved today's position of
struggle through getting over harsh repressions and lots of difficulties.
Learning from their struggles we have to make today, November 7 2004, a
new starting point for the labor movement in Japan. A single spark surely
burns up a wide prairie.
We, fighting workers, are deeply convinced
that only the united struggle of workers can protect our lives and defend
our rights and stop the war. Let's unite widely to create a new society
free from discrimination and poverty! Let's build up the united front
fighting against "divide and rule" policy by the ruling class! Let's
overcome all kinds of barriers and obstacles! Let's develop a solidarity
and concerted cross-border struggle between Japan, USA and South Korea!
Let's develop a nationwide network of fighting labor unions! Starting with
today's rally, we will challenge a new struggle for the spring labor
offensive in 2005.
November 7, 2004
Let's create a nationwide network of fighting labor unions!
Let's
build up the international solidarity confronting masse unemployment and
war!
November 7, National Worker' Rally
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