News

The Seiyu Workers Union of Japan, affiliated to UNI member JSD has achieved something that many unions around the world admire and envy it for: it has a closed shop agreement and a constructive relationship with the management of Walmart owned super market chain Seiyu.

All 2,600 full-time employees except managerial staff of the company are members of the union and covered by a collective agreement which secures them good working conditions and fair pay.

When Walmart bought the Japanese company in 2004, the union immediately sought a meeting with the new management to secure a seat at the table in the take-over process.

Over a long period of 4 years, union and management managed to come to an agreement on the implementation of new check-out, ordering and efficiency measuring systems as well as a new pay structure. Employees were given training to familiarise themselves with the new systems and with the Walmart way of operating.

"With the support of its strong membership base and productive dialogues between the labor and management, we were able to secure all jobs and fair working conditions and to build a constructive relationship with the new owners through " says Union President Naoki Minami.

The union has already organized 1,354 part-timers, better known as irregular workers outside Japan. Aimed at part-timers who work over 20 hours per week, Seiyu Workers Union is actively undertaking organising drive to have 70 % of them organised by the end of this year.