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UNI Commerce supports UI Zensen's struggle for fair treatment
18 Nov, 2010, UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jennings and Alke Boessiger Head of UNI Commerce Global Union visited the UI Zensen (The Japanese Federation of Textile, Chemical, Food, Commercial, Service and General Workers' Unions) head quarters in Tokyo, Japan, to thank President Ochiai and his colleagues for their tremendous support, display of global solidarity and their active participation in making the 3rd UNI World Congress a huge success. Bro. Ochiai also appreciated UNI for giving a valuable opportunity for their delegates and volunteers to attend the very lively and unique global Congress.
Following the visit, Philip and Alke attended the rally to support resolving of the labour dispute between the AOKI company and the union (an affiliate of UI Zensen), and to make a surprise appearance at the AOKI company press conference to hand over the letter of the solidarity message adopted in the 3rd UNI World Congress held last week in Nagasaki to the president of AOKI and AOKI Holdings.
Given concrete evidence of AOKI’s unfair labour practices to its workers and union members, Philip demanded at the rally that the AOKI management end their “dirty tricks” and unjustifiable conducts, and to make immediate responses to the requests written in the solidarity message, stressing “Such a management does not deserve the support of its consumers, workers and investors!”
After the rally, Philip and Alke along with UI Zensen colleagues made way to the entrance of the AOKI press conference where the appearance of the President was scheduled. In result, the press conference ended without the presence of the Aoki president from negligence to confront the unionists. Brother Hashimoto, Assistant General Secretary of UI Zensen gave the letter to an employee of AOKI asking him to deliver it to the President. Once again, a cowardly action was taken by the AOKI management.
Through these actions, the “Global Warrior” Philip Jennings and the “Japanese Warriors” President Ochiai and Bro. Hashimoto of UI Zensen deepened their solidarity under firm mutual determination to continue the fight against AOKI until a resolution is achieved.
It has only been a week since the Congress, and we are already taking action to implement and further push through our Breaking Through objectives. We have entered our second stage of Breaking Through, in which we must begin to make concrete actions to realize each and every one of our specific “must win” goals.
For more pictures go to the UNI page on Flickr: www.uniflickr.com