News On Japan

Major Steel Companies' Unions Demand Highest Wage Increase in Nearly 50 Years

TOKYO, Feb 05 (News On Japan) - This spring's labor negotiations will see labor unions of three major steel companies, members of the Basic Industry Workers' Federation, compile a policy proposal demanding wage increases of about 30,000 yen per month, which amounts to a base pay raise equivalent and marks the highest level in nearly 50 years.

The Basic Industry Workers' Federation, which includes unions from the steel, heavy industry, and shipbuilding sectors, held a press conference on the 5th to present a policy proposal seeking wage increases of at least 12,000 yen per month as a base pay equivalent. Specifically, the labor unions of the three steel giants—Nippon Steel, JFE Steel, and Kobe Steel—have compiled a policy proposal demanding a monthly increase of 30,000 yen. This request is the highest since the impact of the oil shock-induced price increases in 1975, nearly 50 years ago. Additionally, labor unions of heavy industry leaders such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI are aiming for a monthly increase of 18,000 yen, while those from non-ferrous metal giants like Mitsubishi Materials are seeking a raise of 15,000 yen per month.

Tsuneo Tsumura, the central executive chairman of the Basic Industry Workers' Federation, stated, "We have asked for consideration on what kind of demand policy to establish, from the perspective of price increases and the continued improvement of wages. We want to assertively negotiate with the stance of firmly achieving what we have demanded."

Source: NHK

POPULAR NEWS

Professor Kenjiro Kimura of Kobe University, who also serves as the CEO of Integral Geometry Science, has made a groundbreaking discovery in applied mathematics by solving an unsolved problem and inventing the world's first 'through-object visualization technology.'

The 'Myakumyaku' statue, the official character of Expo 2025, placed in front of Osaka City Hall, has been vandalized with English text saying 'Free Palestine', prompting the city to file a damage report.

Efforts to retrieve the body of a man found in a forest in Akita Prefecture, where two male police officers were attacked by a bear on Saturday, were abandoned Sunday with the possibility the bear is still lurking in the area.

Temperatures soared above 30C in northern Japan and northern Kyushu on Sunday, marking a true summer day, while weather conditions in western and eastern Japan worsened. In Tokyo, the early summer spectacle, the Asakusa Sanja Festival, reached its climax.

or as long as Shohei Ohtani plays for the Dodgers -- which will be at least for the next decade -- May 17 will be known as “Shohei Ohtani Day” in Los Angeles County. (MLB)

FOLLOW US
         

MORE Business NEWS

Japan's Economic Minister Yasutoshi Saito visited Hokkaido on Sunday to inspect the construction site of Rapidus's factory, which aims to mass-produce next-generation semiconductors.

The Umeda area in Osaka is seeing a surge in high-rise apartment construction, including a 49-story residential skyscraper south of JR Osaka Station.

Japan's National Police Agency revealed on May 16 that the amount of money lost to impersonation investment scams on social media totaled 21.9 billion yen in just three months from January to March this year.

The president and seven employees of The Grand Shield, previously featured in Japanese media due to financial troubles with dental braces, have been arrested for selling high-yield bonds without registration, promising annual returns of 20%. It is believed that two women among the suspects collected 4.6 billion yen alone.

Japan's real GDP growth rate for the first quarter of this year, from January to March, was announced by the Cabinet Office to be an annualized minus 2.0%.

Businessman Yusaku Maezawa has filed a lawsuit against Meta, the company operating Facebook, seeking 1 yen in damages in response to a series of investment scams involving impersonation of famous personalities on social media.

As the Japanese government begins discussions on the basic policies for its energy strategy, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has constructed a new substation and other infrastructure in Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture, to address the increasing power consumption of data centers.

Honda Motor says it will invest 10 trillion yen or roughly 65 billion dollars in electric vehicles and software for self-driving technology through fiscal 2030. (NHK)