News

The mission, carried out on October 17 and 18, was one more step in the construction of a fruitful exchange of experiences among UNI G and the Japanese unions. Eichi Ito, director of the UNI APRO office in Tokyo, organized an interesting work agenda. Among other activities, a seminar on the Social Model in Sweden and France was held. It was attended by more than 40 participants of the diverse organizations that represent workers of our sector.



Where is the industry going?



The future of the industry was the main discussion at the meeting of the UNI G delegation and Insatsu Roren. “We are facing great changes, due fundamentally to digitalization; we know that in the future, paper is not going to disappear, but skills and jobs will change, and our great concern is to know how we will insert ourselves into these new areas”, stated Osamu Kakizak



UNI Graphical delegation, together with InsatsuRoren



It is a concern that is without a doubt shared by the sector, which has begun to discuss organizing strategies in the areas of digital technologies (editing, publishing and logistics). “The last meeting of the UNI Graphical Executive Committee dedicated a substantial part of its time to the discussion of how to approach this challenge; this discussion will be gone into with more depth in 2009, and so we expect to be able to count on your contributions to it”, emphasized Michel Muller.



Insatsu Roren showed itself receptive to establishing new forms of cooperation, based fundamentally on an active exchange of information.



Contribution of Zeninsatsu to the Discussion on Security Printing



“The visit we made to Japan in 2007 allowed us, among other things, to perceive the importance of the security printing sector, and consequently, organize a Conference that took place in September 2008, in Croatia, where the contributions of Zeninsatsu were very much appreciated by the participants”, said Adriana Rosenzvaig.



The UNI G delegation together with the Zeninsatsu leaders, analyzed the next steps to be taken in the area of security printing. Kyoji Takei, President of Zeninsatsu, reaffirmed his commitment to international work. “The support of UNI Graphical was very important for us in our struggle against the privatization of our company; additionally, the Conference allowed us to understand the global situation of our sector”, he indicated.



Dinner with Zeninsatsu



“We have a lot to learn from each other”, emphasized Tommy Anderson. “We have the same difficulties in collective bargaining; in the organizing of members in non-traditional areas of the industry; the same need for companies to respect union rights, whatever country they operate in: because of this, and many other things, we must explore how to improve our communication and our friendship”, he concluded.



Global Enthusiasm on the Third UNI Congress, in Nagasaki



The delegation shared with the Japanese Unions the huge expectation that exists concerning the Third UNI Congress, which will take place in Nagasaki, in 2010. "We will celebrate the ten years of UNI, and it will be the occasion to renew our commitment with this organization that we created, which is a strategic tool for the workers", stated Michel Muller





For more information, contact: Adriana.rosenzvaig@uniglobalunion.org