Request for Endorsement of and Participation in

Nov. 2 National Workers’ All-out Rally

10,000 Grand March to Stop Constitutional Revision and War!

National Railway Motive Power Union of Chiba (Doro-Chiba)
National Movement Against Division and Privatization of JNR and for Revocation of Dismissals of 1,047 Workers
Grand March Against Constitutional Revision and War

We first called for the November Workers’ Rally in 1995. We sought to reunite the fighting power of workers and labor unions in opposition to the “certain defeat of the Japanese labor movement” that took the form of the dissolution of the then national trade union center, Sohyo, and the formation of Rengo (Japan Trade Union Confederation) in 1989. That was our determination embodied in the rally. For 30 years since then, this effort has continued year after year, supported by our comrades across the country. The revitalization of the labor movement and the building of a class-struggle labor movement are ambitious themes. However, the greatest achievement of the November Rally movement is that we have persevered to face the actual situation and, through that struggle, have forged groundbreaking international solidarity struggles with workers from around the world, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. Now, war has become a real threat, and workers around the world are fighting for their lives. It’s time for us in Japan to bring the united fighting workers to the forefront of our times.

We stand at a historical crossroads. Trump’s tariffs and the airstrikes on Iran have transformed the world. The flames of wars are spreading uncontrollably. Crisis-stricken US imperialism is seeking to crush China. This is the quintessence of what is happening now. Meanwhile, Japan’s Ishiba administration, reeling from an unending social break down, is attempting to wage an aggressive war against China as a war of its own. Under the Diet, in which all “opposition parties”, have turned into pro-government ones, the massive military build-up, including the acquisition of enemy base attack capabilities, the extended nuclear deterrence, and the military fortification of the Nansei Islands, is proceeding unopposed, with the Rengo on board. All of this is beginning to unfold in a way that is “the scenario for putting an end of the ‘interwar period’ which lasted 80 years” (Sankei Shimbun).

The lives of workers, confined within the cages of extremely low wages, are about to crumble beneath their feet. A historic shift in labor policy has begun. It is driven by the “national defense as national strength” approach and a rapidly declining population by millions each year. This attack can be described as a shift to wartime labor policy, including: 1) the semi-forced transfer of labor to “critical sectors,” 2) the dismantling of the basic labor rights – making of “society without labor unions,” 3) the introduction of 6.88 million foreign workers into “essential jobs”, and 4) the fundamental reform (dismantling) of social security systems such as medical care, nursing care, and pensions. These developments have also produced violent social clashes during the House of Councilors election campaign, including the eruption of xenophobic slurs, and the conditions surrounding the labor movement and class struggle are about to change drastically. We are determined to go forward in solidarity with foreign workers and women who are under fierce attack. The labor movement cannot survive unless it can fight against rampant nationalism, discrimination, and xenophobia.

We call for a nationwide workers’ rally on November 2, with the following four slogans:

First, let’s create a labor movement that prevents an aggressive war against China and fights discrimination and xenophobia!

The entire society is being incorporated under a “Taiwan emergency” system. Taking “the 80th anniversary of the end of the war” as an opportunity, assaults are intensifying, seeking national unity centered around the emperor system and crushing the struggles of Okinawa and Hiroshima. Let us create a new era of struggles against US-Japanese Security Treaty system and Okinawa struggle with our own hands. Let us create a broader and deeper struggle against constitutional revision and war. Social solidarity is needed. What is important is to recognize what people living in Japan, women, people with disabilities, and Burakumin want from the labor movement. Workers cannot join us if we cannot even fight back the assaults on us. Let us make anti-war struggle the primary mission of labor unions. Labor unions must learn to fight for the greater good: the complete emancipation of the working class and the liberation of millions of downtrodden people.

Second, let’s create a labor movement that resists the historic shift in wartime labor policy!

JR East is leading the “triad of labor market reform” advocated by Keidanren (Japan Business Federation). Already, new “wage negotiations” are underway with the Shayukai (Company Friends Association) at JR workplaces, making a “society without unions” a fait accompli. Starting from next April, attacks aimed at completely dismantling postwar labor-management relations will be implemented, including the abolition of retirement benefits and a transition to defined-contribution pension plans, the abolition of regular pay increases, and the abandonment and outsourcing of all operational work. We must adapt the nature of our movement to the quality of our enemy’s attacks.

Third, let’s use the ground gained in the struggle against the division and privatization of JNR as a channel to create a labor movement that confronts the Rengo line!

We must take on the struggle to upend Rengo from its very foundations. We are a force that have maintained our unity by confronting the division and privatization of Japan National Railways, the largest postwar attack on the labor movement. The struggle to reverse the dismissal of 1,047 JNR workers is now at a critical juncture, where we will determine whether we can overcome the final hurdle to victory. Although small in number now, we are a force not to be underestimated, and this is why we have been able to continue holding these rallies and have earned the trust of workers around the world. Now is the time to put that power to win.

Fourth, let’s overthrow the reactionary Ishiba administration and create a new fighting workers’ party!

With the Diet moving toward a single ruling party, we can no longer entrust the future of workers to any one party. Fundamental social change is required. As an essential task for reviving the labor movement, we must create a workers’ party, led by workers themselves, and fighting together with them. Only the united struggle of workers has the power to make history.

We will move forward proudly with our comrades who will gather at the November Workers’ All-out Rally. Let’s revive the labor movement. We sincerely appeal for the participation and cooperation of all our comrades. Let’s carve out history together.

November 2 National Workers’ All-out Rally / 10,000 March to Stop Constitutional Revision and War!
Date and Time: Sunday, November 2, 2025, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Demonstration ＆ March)
Venue: Area 23, Shibakoen, Tokyo (3-4 Shibakoen, Minato Ward)
Contact: doro-chiba@doro-chiba.org