News
Japan Postal Group Union held its 5th National Congress, June 13-15
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Eighteen hundred participants came together at the 5th annual congress of the Japan Postal Group Union (JPGU) in Tokyo. The congress opened with JPGU President Usuki’s speech spelling out what union members are facing, and a postal reform legislation we have achieved. Participants also heard a message from the president of Japan Trade Union Confederation (JTUC) –Rengo. JPGU friendly-Diet members also made fraternal speeches to the floor. Stephen DeMatteo, Deputy Head of UNI Post and Logistics Global Union, delivered the message. He said, “I’d like to congratulate you for your success efforts to legislate the Amended Postal Privatization Law. You have struggled under severe conditions to maintain postal services since the postal privatization in October 2007. What you have achieved in this legislation was to change the rule of the game, i.e. one from neo-liberal rule of Mr. Koizumi to the rule of universal services. Japan Post Group can make a good start now and it will be able to provide a good chance to become a normal and efficient postal services. I was greatly impressed by your persistent effort to amend the legislation of postal privatization and by your strong spirit with which you carried out the task despite the numerous difficulties. I can assure you that this is not my opinion alone – your brothers and sisters around the world in UNI Post & Logistics were cheering you on all along.” He also said, “We would like to learn a lot from the Japanese experiences and work together. In that sense, a new postal legislation is a great encouragement to all of UNI members.” At the same time, He appreciated the JPGU’s contribution to the UNI activities as saying “I am grateful for the prominent role JPGU is taking inside UNI Apro which gives great support to trade unions in the region. In particular, I would like to express my appreciation to the support of JPGU for the organization of trade unions in Asia & Pacific region as a leader of trade union movement.” Through 3 day’s debates, delegates to the congress talked about the current issues which our membership would face. Finally the Congress adapted this year’s action policies. |