Unfair labor practice

My opinion of this week(531)：

Unfair labor practice: Instruction to return summer bonus

Kiyoshi Murase, Director General of Social Insurance Agency, said to all　management people and workers in the Agency to return some parts of summer　bonus paid to them recently to show their feeling of sorry for misconducts　happened in their office. Most of top and middle management people and some workers followed to the　instruction. Some workers refrain from　returning bonus for it should be done only on a voluntary basis.

In connection with this move, Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Secretary General of Abe　Cabinet issued a statement yesterday at the news conference. He said　the new born organization will not rehire any of those old workers who　refused to follow the instruction to return some parts of summer bonus at　this time. According to the plan to reform the Agency, all employees will　be fired at once without any exception. The new agency would rehire some　of those old employees if they are good all right. They would not rehire　some of those who are were found out no good. Shiozaki indicated this　stance.

I already pointed out that that kind of procedures itself to fire all　people when they dissolve the Agency involves some problem. It may against to some fundamental labor laws in Japan which define some basic right of　workers concerning employment. How can they fire all workers in the agency　at once without any specific reason? How are all general workers in the　Agency are responsible for what happened in various stages of failures　in their organization? I wrote about this doubt in my BLOG on June 24.　

For argument sake, let assume that the Agency Reform Law which was　passed at the diet at this time justifies the action to fire all　workers at once in connection with the disorganization of the Agency.

Is it justified to make it a rule to decide some are rehired and some　are not. More specifically, Secretary General Shiozaki meant to say that　some one who returned summer bonus would be rehired but some who did not　return bonus would not be hired.　

I was quite surprised to read this comment. His statement is obviously　very wrong. What he said is against the very important principle of labor　laws. His statement forced workers to follow very unfair condition to　keep employment in a　organization. It seems to be a typical example of unfair labor practice from my point of view.

I believe Shiozaki's statement will present a serious argument in coming election in July. I do hope there will be many appropriate criticism against series of mismanagement by Abe Cabinet on this critical issue concerning the disorganization of Social Insurance Agency.

2007/6/30
Tadashi HAYASE