| 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
|
DORO-CHIBA
