Japanese workers on US bases go on strike
Thursday, 22 November 2007
TOKYO, Nov 21 (AFP): Thousands of Japanese union workers on US military bases went on a nationwide strike Wednesday for the first time in 16 years, protesting pay and benefit cuts proposed by the Japanese government.
The All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union, which boasts 16,000 members, went on a half-day strike, with each employee leaving for four hours and working the rest of their shift, said Tetsushi Toyama, head of the union's Tokyo branch.
The government pays the salaries of Japanese workers on US bases as part of its host nation support.
More than 40,000 US troops are stationed in the country under a security alliance with Japan, officially pacifist since World War II.
Tokyo aims to cut Japanese personnel costs by 10 percent as part of a government-wide drive to slash spending and contain a ballooning public debt.
"We are continuing our negotiations. But if the next round of talks on November 27 fails again, we might go on another strike on November 30. This time, we will go on a full strike, eight hours a day," Toyama said.
No critical operations were affected by the partial strike, said Master Sergeant Terence Peck, spokesman for the US Forces in Japan.
Japan wants to reduce premiums which are given to base workers because they need special skills, such as speaking English, and do not enjoy the same job security as most other government workers in Japan.
It is estimated the proposed cuts would save Japan some 10 billion yen (91.7 million dollars).
Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that base workers earned above market rates in the southern island of Okinawa, which hosts the bulk of US troops and has one of Japan's highest unemployment rates.
"Considering their salary levels and the ones of those who work in the rest of Okinawa, can we really make the public understand giving them that much? We must sincerely discuss that point," Ishiba told a news conference Tuesday.
"This expenditure contains many inefficient areas, and the government is reviewing its overall spending with no areas of exception," he said.
The All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union, which boasts 16,000 members, went on a half-day strike, with each employee leaving for four hours and working the rest of their shift, said Tetsushi Toyama, head of the union's Tokyo branch.
The government pays the salaries of Japanese workers on US bases as part of its host nation support.
More than 40,000 US troops are stationed in the country under a security alliance with Japan, officially pacifist since World War II.
Tokyo aims to cut Japanese personnel costs by 10 percent as part of a government-wide drive to slash spending and contain a ballooning public debt.
"We are continuing our negotiations. But if the next round of talks on November 27 fails again, we might go on another strike on November 30. This time, we will go on a full strike, eight hours a day," Toyama said.
No critical operations were affected by the partial strike, said Master Sergeant Terence Peck, spokesman for the US Forces in Japan.
Japan wants to reduce premiums which are given to base workers because they need special skills, such as speaking English, and do not enjoy the same job security as most other government workers in Japan.
It is estimated the proposed cuts would save Japan some 10 billion yen (91.7 million dollars).
Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that base workers earned above market rates in the southern island of Okinawa, which hosts the bulk of US troops and has one of Japan's highest unemployment rates.
"Considering their salary levels and the ones of those who work in the rest of Okinawa, can we really make the public understand giving them that much? We must sincerely discuss that point," Ishiba told a news conference Tuesday.
"This expenditure contains many inefficient areas, and the government is reviewing its overall spending with no areas of exception," he said.