Non-regular workers in Japan have organized a labor union to demand higher wages amidst rising inflation. The union, representing approximately 500 workers, plans to stage walkouts at 15 companies towards the end of March.
The union's co-chair, Kotaro Aoki, emphasized the importance of collective action in securing wage increases. He encouraged workers to initiate negotiations with their employers and join the movement to spread the demand for higher pay.
On March 13, walkouts occurred at several companies, including Sushiro and Gaba. A Canadian worker at an English language school in Tokyo expressed the challenges faced by non-regular workers in coping with rising living costs.
This is the second year that unions representing non-regular workers have united to make such demands. In 2023, after failed negotiations with 36 companies, 50 workers from 10 companies went on strike. Time-limited strikes have also proven effective in securing wage increases.
This year, most unions are demanding wage increases of 10 percent or more. The number of participants in the movement has grown to approximately 30,000 people from 120 companies across various industries, including retail, food and beverage, education, transportation, manufacturing, and service.