Harassment on Japan railway Workers by government
post card movement for justice
(prajasakti special correspondent - mumbai)

 The experience of the Japanese railway workers have proved that the ill-effects of Liberalization and Globalization policies are the same through out the world. Similar reform processes like the Power Sector Reforms in Andhra Pradesh (one of the states of Indian union which have 24 states) are being implemented in Japan Railways. The repression faced by the electricity employees is being faced by the Japanese Railway employees. Prior to 1989 Japan railways was a government undertaking, this company which was in profits was a prey to the government policies and was fragmented to six different companies. With the privatization policies coming into play recruitments on a permanent basis have been stopped and hiring under contract system was started. Cutting short the number of employees on the name of excess labour, transfers to other companies and places was introduced. The Japan Confederation of Railway Workers Union (JRU) opposed these moves that were against the interests of employees. The management came out with a conspiracy to bring in a division in the union by making one of its activist as an agent. When the other workers tried to convince him, they were charged of torturing him. The police that was waiting for an opportunity broke down heavily on the Union. Alleging heinous crime by the union the police arrested 7 leaders of the union and took over 3000 documents of the union and seized the assets of the union. Tomoku Oda the in charge of the international affairs of the union said these acts were against the laws of Japan and also the laws of ILO. Challenging these acts JRU put a petition in the ILO, which still under trial. In spite of this growing resistance the government of Japan is not taking any steps to diffuse the situation. Condemning these acts JRU has started a post card campaign and is taking signatures from all those who are attending the WSF.