7.17 Nationwide Street Campaign Was Carried Out!
One year has passed since the seven drivers of Urawa Electric Train
Depot were handed a guilty verdict by the Tokyo District Court. In
November 2002, they had been arrested and then detained for 344 days on
suspicion of alleged coercion. After 60 times of trial session which
took 4 years and 8 months, the Tokyo District Court decided innocent
seven members were “guilty”. The East Japan Railway Company issued
punitive dismissal against six convicted members on 30 August.
On 17 July, JRU-affiliated unions held a unified nationwide campaign and
rallies to protest against the judgment of guilty conviction.
The campaign was organized from northern area of Japan, Hokkaido, to southern area, Kyushu, from early morning till night. On the morning in front of the Tokyo High Court a rally was held by JRU, JREU and its Tokyo Region Office. Seven convicted members of so-called JRU7 spoke out against the court decision which was based on false accusation, and called for their acquittal. Several members who represented JRU-affiliated unions and Support Association for JRU7 addressed speeches protesting against the unfair court decision. Other union members distributed flyers.
In this campaign in Tokyo 1500 union members distributed more than 46.000 flyers in a day. Our street campaign was carried out at 122 locations across Japan. People were willing to take our flyers and gave us encouraging words. Not only Urawa case, we also condemned another cooked-up case in Central Japan Railway Workers’ Union. In this case one of the union members was indicted and then dismissed by the JR Tokai Company.
These cases were fabricated by the police. The trade union who fights for peace, human rights and democracy like JRU is targeted for their crackdown. The government and the police deny the right to organize and right to act collectively which the Constitution stipulates.
JRU will fight on against union-busting, and fight for acquittal of JRU7 and withdrawal of their dismissal. We are fighting for justice!
