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It is time to Strengthen Solidarity among Building Maintenance Workers
Taking the opportunity to come to Japan as a resource person for the UNI-LCJ Youth English Camp, Sis. Claire Parfitt, Research Assistant of UNI Property Services visited some Japanese affiliates organizing building maintenance workers and exchanged views on challenges the workers are facing. Property service workers are left behind, suffering from harsh working conditions in most of the countries. Japan is no exception. The competitive bidding and subcontracting system are leading causes of pushing down workers wages in the sector. Sis. Claire met representatives from the Building Maintenance Workers’ Union Liaison Council of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO, the National Trade Union Center in Japan). The Council outlined the industry and pointed out some issues particular to public and to private properties, which they are currently dealing with. When she visited JOHO-ROREN, one of UNI Telecom affiliates, Bro. Kikuchi, President of Rising Sun Security Service Workers’ Union, reported that its members filed a couple of lawsuits against the company for its unfair labour practice, such as unpaid overtime work, disruptive transfers because of forming a union and others. At UI Zensen, one of UNI Commerce affiliates, Bro. Hashimoto, Assistant General Secretary in charge of Organizing, explained its organizing strategy as the biggest industrial federation in Japan, that is targeting top 10 enterprises in an industry. Bro. Ogawa of Organizing Bureau stressed that unions need to tackle enforcement of the law imposing severe punishment on inappropriate property management companies in order to improve the workers’ standard of living. Bro. Kaneko, General Secretary of Asahi Building Management Service Union showed their approaches to organize part-time workers by negotiating a unique promotion system for them. Japanese building maintenance workers’ unions are trying to adopt new strategies to ensure decent work for all the employees in the sector. Sis. Claire shared UNI Property Services successful campaigns took place in Europe with attendees at series of meetings and told them that UNI provides support in any way possible for making their efforts a success.