RISE UP FOR "BUPPAN" STRUGGLE IN SUMMER
27 April 2004

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(Union News "Daily DORO CHIBA" No.5870,)(Japanes)

RISE UP FOR "BUPPAN" STRUGGLE IN SUMMER 2004

The "Buppan" struggle is a certain type of collecting money activities in order to support dismissed colleagues by selling much variety of goods including food, drink, sweet, toys and stationary.
In Doro-Chiba, full-time workers not just buy a certain amount of Buppan goods every time, but also together with dismissed colleagues go visiting around other trade unions to sell goods and collect money.

THIS "BUPPAN SUMMER" FIGHT STARTS AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY

On the 20th of April, we had a meeting of those in charge of Buppan in Doro-Chiba. Buppan is a core struggle to demand Withdrawal of Dismissal. Both the dismissed workers and full-time workers in Japan Railway (JR) Co. fight side by side against JR capital and unfair labour practice by the state.

Also, it is a good opportunity for all the members of Doro-Chiba union to tell and ask fellow workers in other unions what is happening in JR workplace, how our union fight back against it and how they can fight together. Our brothers and sisters of all Japan want to know the struggle of Doro-Chiba and want to listen to voice of rank and file members. Buppan is precious chance to create network of solidarity and support in rank and file levels.

TELL WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED IN SPRING LABOUR OFFENSIVE
AND BUILD UP NEW WAVE OF FIGHTING TRADE UNIONISM

The first thing we have to tell to all the workers in Japan is that we carried out strike, direct action in our workplace in order to resurrect fighting Spring Offensive. There, we can see all the answer for raison d'etre, the meaning of trade unions.

We have struck 3 times and fought non-cooperative struggles. This struggle finally broke in unlawful management system under collusion of JR Co. & JR-Soren. It also showed the way for all the working class suffering the bad and harsh working conditions. This is the way to go. We can fight like this, build solidarity, give a blow to the boss and win a victory. We already started to have bus workers who followed our example in the same prefecture. Strike and fight is the only way to stop boss's harsh attack.

Plus, Spring Offensive this year opened up a new vista for withdrawing dismissals on JNR 1047, and also combined union movement and anti-war, anti-occupation movements. With all these achievement, let's fly to all parts of the country.

SAY NO TO "JUSTICE REFORMATION" FOR WAR

Report of rally on 21 April 2004, at Lawyer Hall, Tokyo

It was just before Justice Reformation Related Bills have been passed in the House of Representatives on 23 April. Groups of "Society for Constitution & Human Right in Japan Federation of Bar Associations" and "All Japan Lawyers' ACTION Opposing Penal Justice Corruption" held a rally: STOP "JUSTICE REFORMATION" FOR WAR! & BRING TROOP BACK FROM IRAQ!

This "Justice Reformation" is proposed after National Emergency Act was enacted and Japan's "Self Defence Force" has been dispatched to Iraq. Its aim is to change the justice system to war situation. One of the organizers and speakers is Kouken Tsuchiya, ex-president of Japan Federation of Bar Associations. He described the "reformation" as "Penal Lawsuit Act under war system".

Tetsusya Muranaka, vice-president of Japan Federation of Aviation Worker's Unions, first thanked people to have come to 20 March Demo. Then, he talked about the release of 5 Japanese hostages in Iraq: "Our voices of anti-war & bring SDF back home have reached people in Iraq", "Justice in demand and movement is the key for victory. Our voices have all reasons to be heard by people in the world. And the right demand requires mass movement, and this movement has a meaning just when it continues", "Please come and join in the Rally in Meiji Park on 21 May called by Twenty Trade Unions."

Teachers under massive attack and discipline at closing and opening ceremony in this spring (academic year starts on April in Japan) gave a report on their fight. They are also the plaintiff to demand and confirm that there is no such thing like obligation to sing National Anthem in school.

Megumi Hara MP and Kantoku Teruya MP, coming out of the on-going Diet, declared their determination: "Amendment is also hideous. Only option should be its abolishment."

We had a drama played by lawyers. It has been already a custom to have these drama plays, and the title of this time is: "Call-up paper in the 21 century - newly planned trial members system". It drew laugh from the audience and let them understand what the meaning of the planned system is. All the people there understood that courts became nothing under the planned system.

In panel discussion, chaired by Tatsuo Suzuki, lawyer, lots of and various problems of the "Justice Reformation" have been revealed. Takao Saito, journalist, said: "They say 'It will allow nationals' healthy social common sense directly reflected on the court'. But in reality, it means emphasis on emotion of nationals and criminal victims instead of examining appropriate proof, and tends to bring serious sentence", "Please consider the present situation, ex-hostages and their families have been taken into a kangaroo court."

Hoichi Fujisawa, lawyer, said: "What they call 'Realization of Swift Court' will bring deterioration of lawyer".

Toshiki Odanaka, emeritus of Tohoku University, said: "Penal punishment is the key to control nationals. Their intention is to organize nationals to war system under the name of self-responsibility through the new court order. This is new version of Justice General Mobilization Orders". And Kenich Endo revealed its detail.

Lastly, Shunkichi Takayama, president of Society for Constitution & Human Right in Japan Federation of Bar Associations asked the audience and said: "Let's ensure the justice for people through the fight in and out of the Diet".

References:

Japan Federation of Bar Associations
http://www.nichibenren.or.jp/
Society for Constitution & Human Right in Japan Federation of Bar Associations
http://www.mezasukai.org/
All Japan Lawyers' ACTION Opposing Penal Justice Corruption
http://www.mezasukai.org/keiben/action12.htm
Japan Federation of Aviation Worker's Unions (JFAU)
http://jfau.phenix.or.jp/

DORO-CHIBA (DC): National Railway Motive Power Union of CHIBA
Email: doro-chiba@doro-chiba.org
Web: https://doro-chiba.org/

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