| 1957-1964 |
Launch of IMF Organizing Drives |
| April 1957 |
IMF Office in Tokyo is opened |
| March 1958 |
IMF sends solidarity contribution for JSW nation-wide strike |
| May 1958 |
Representative of Japanese metalworkers attends 19th IMF World Congress (Rome) |
| 1959 |
JSW sends solidarity contribution for USWA industrial action |
The IMF (International Metalworkers' Federation) was founded in 1893 as one of the free and democratic ITS (International Trade Secretariats) unifying metalworkers throughout the world in the fight for human rights, trade union rights, democracy and social justice.
Before the 1950's, quite a few people in Japan were aware of the IMF's existence. The IMF planned to set up a liaison office for organizing activities in Japan to cope with the new labor situation as a result of rapid economic growth.
The IMF office in Tokyo was opened in April 1957, and Brother Ichiro Seto was assigned as a Director of the IMF Liaison Office for Japan. Brother Seto launched organizing drives for Japanese metalworkers in cooperation with Brother Alfred Dannenberg, Assistant General Secretary of the IMF. In May 1957, the IMF Office in Tokyo started regular publication of The IMF News as an instrument for organizing drives. The IMF was gradually gaining popularity through Brother Seto's tireless efforts, including courtesy calls and fraternal participation in various industrial federations' events with IMF officials and affiliates, as well as letting Japanese metalworkers' representatives observe IMF conferences and meetings.
In Autumn 1957, the then JSW (Japan Federation of Steelworkers Unions: Tekko Roren) went on a major nation-wide strike, and a contribution of 1 million Swiss Francs was given to the JSW by the IMF in the name of international solidarity of the world's metal workers.
JSW became one of the powerful unions in Japan to send a 1 million yen solidarity contribution to the USWA (United Steelworkers of America) in 1959, when the American steelworkers burst into industrial action. Through these acts of international solidarity and international exchange within the framework of the IMF, the Japanese metalworkers' leadership gained a better understanding of the IMF and its activities.
|
| 1964-1969 |
Foundation of the IMF-JC |
| January 1964 |
Committee for IMF-JC foundation is launched. |
| May 16, 1964 |
IMF-JC inaugural convention is held and Brother Tomoyuki Fukuma is elected first President of IMF-JC. IMF-JC secretariat is located the Railworkers’ Hall. |
| October 1964 |
IMF-JC Kyushu Regional Council and IMF-JC Chugoku Regional Council hold their inaugural conventions. |
| November 1964 |
IMF-JC Kansai Regional Council holds its inaugural convention.
IMF-JC is affiliated to the IMF at the 20th IMF Word Congress. The IMF-JC delegation for the Congress is composed of 40 representatives. |
| February, 1966 |
JSW is affiliated to the IMF-JC. |
| January 1967 |
IMF-JC East Japan Labor Leadership Course opens in collaboration with Meiji Gakuin University. |
| November 1968 |
IMF-JC secretariat is moved from Railworkers’ Hall to Yaesu.
IMF-JC releases its first“White Paper on the Wage Struggle,” launching the nation-wide wage struggle of metalworkers. |
| February 1969 |
First IMF Asia Regional Conference is held in Tokyo with the participation of Brother Adolph Graedel, General Secretary of the IMF and delegates of metalworkers’ unions from 11 countries |
| December 1969 |
IMF-JC West Japan Labor Leadership Course opens in collaboration with Kansai Seminar House. |
In 1964, Japan became a true member of the free economic system as a state among the advanced countries. Japan applied for Article 8 of the IMF (International Monetary Fund) in April 1964, and then became a member state of the OECD (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development).
In order to cope with the liberalization of trade, management tried to strengthen companies' structures to survive the fierce international competition through company tie-ups and mergers from 1962 to 1963. Recognizing the necessity to join the IMF, Japanese metalworkers' unions decided to form the IMF-JC (International Metalworkers' Federation-Japan Council) and launched a struggle to improve wages and working conditions. The IMF-JC was founded on May 16, 1964 with an inaugural membership of 470,000 assembled from beyond the boundaries of the nation's major urban centers, coming from four industry-wide federations and two enterprise-based unions including Denki Roren (electrical and electronics workers), Zosen Soren (shipbuilders), Zenkoku Jidosha (automobile workers), Zenkikin (metal and machinery workers), Yahata Steelworkers' Union and Nakayama Steelworkers' Union.
Delegates to the Inaugural Convention elected Brother Tomoyuki Fukuma as president and Brother Ichiro Seto as general secretary of the IMF-JC. In 1966, all Japanese steelworkers affiliated with the IMF-JC through JSW.
The 20th IMF World Congress, which was held in November 1964 in Vienna, unanimously approved the affiliation of the IMF-JC.
Organizing drives at the regional level were also strengthened shortly after the inauguration of the IMF-JC. Nine regional councils were established by 1968. In September 1968, IMF-JC membership exceeded one million.
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| 1970-1974 |
Formation of the IMF-JC |
| September 1970 |
IMF-JC Kanto Region is established. |
| October 1971 |
22nd IMF Congress is held in Lausanne; 49 delegates participated from the IMF-JC participated. |
| February 1972 |
JSEU (Japan Confederation of Shipbuilding and Heavy Industry Workers’
Unions: Zosen Juki Roren)is formed.
The first IMF Asian Youth and Women Symposium is held in Manila. |
| October 1972 |
JAW (Confederation of Japan Automobile Workers’ Unions: Jidosha Soren) is formed. |
| July 1973 |
TCM (Trade Union Council for Multinational Companies) is founded. |
| September 1973 |
Brother Tomoyuki Fukuma retires as IMF-JC President and Brother Yoshiji Miyata succeeds as the second President of the IMF-JC.
IMF Nissan World Auto Council and IMF Toyota World Auto Council hold its first meetings in Japan. |
| October 1974 |
The tenth Anniversary of the IMF-JC is observed. |
By the early 1970's, the present organization of the IMF-JC had almost been completed. In February 1972, the JSEU was founded and affiliated with the IMF-JC. In May 1972, Zenkin Domei (present JAM) decided to affiliate with the IMF-JC; in October 1972, the JAW was formed and affiliated with the IMF-JC. At last, six major industry-wide federations had become affiliates of the IMF-JC. As far as regional organization is concerned, the framework of IMF-JC regional organizations emerged, as the Shikoku region was formed in December 1972.
At the National Convention in September 1973, Brother Tomoyuki Fukuma, the Inaugural President, retired and Brother Yoshiji Miyata, President of the JSW, was elected as the next President of the IMF-JC.
To promote its international activities in Asia, the IMF-JC started an annual program in July 1970 that invited trade union leaders from Southeast Asian countries to Japan. In January 1973, the IMF Japan Office was transformed to the IMF East Asian Office, which conducted IMF activities in Asian countries including those in East and Southeast Asia.
The IMF-JC hosted the IMF World Shipbuilding Conference in Tokyo in March 1973 as the first international conference of the IMF Shipbuilding Department.
To deal with the problems caused by Japan-based multinational companies operating overseas, particularly in Asia, the IMF-JC worked alongside other major unions in non-metal industries to inaugurate the TCM in July 1973. In April 1974, the government and the management accepted a proposal made by the IMF-JC and TCM to form the Contact Meeting of Problems Caused by Multinationals as a tripartite platform to exchange views on industrial relations at Japan-based multinational companies operating overseas.
|
| 1975-1979 |
IMF-JC Becomes a Trendsetter for Annual Wage Negotiations |
| May 1976 |
The first North America-Japan Metalworkers’ Conference is held. |
| August 1977 |
The Advanced Labor Leadership Course was opens.
September 1977 20th Anniversary of IMF East Asian Office was held. |
| September 1977 |
The Twentieth Anniversary of the IMF East Asian Office is observed. |
| October 1977 |
The 24th IMF World Congress is held in Munich and Brother Ichiro Seto is elected as Assistant General Secretary of the IMF. |
| December 1977 |
The contact meeting between IMF-JC and ICEF-JAF (the present ICEM-JAF: International Chemical, Energy and Mineworkers Federation-Japanese Affiliates' Federation) is launched. It develops the "Joint Struggle". |
By 1978, the IMF-JC became a trendsetter in the nation-wide annual wage negotiation rounds. The IMF-JC national wage campaign became known as the "IMF-JC Joint Struggle" in 1978, and affiliates' negotiations were coordinated to be settled on the same day. In 1979, because the IMF-JC struggle became powerful enough to influence wage increases in other industries, the IMF-JC decided to put its utmost effort into increasing wages. The day on which the major IMF-JC affiliates concluded their wage negotiations with management caught the attention of the media.
Japan's economy in the late 1970's recovered from the triple difficulties that led to negative growth: skyrocketing prices of petroleum caused by the first oil crisis, rapidly increasing inflation, and an international trade deficit.
In the late 1970's, the IMF-JC came to play a major role in wage determinations, and its comprehensive wage struggle had firmly taken root.
In the 1975 Wage Struggle, the JSW and JSEU met with success in setting their wage negotiation rounds on the same day, and since 1976 the IMF-JC has developed concentrated wage struggles. Meanwhile, the IMF-JC also put an emphasis on strengthening the fundamentals for realizing comprehensive wage struggles by energetically urging the government and management associations to implement pro-labor policies of securing employment and stabilizing commodities prices.
In December 1977, the IMF-JC and ICEF-JAF launched a contact meeting for the wage struggle. 1978 marked the first year of the IMF-JC/ICEF-JAF Joint Struggle. From 1979 onward, the IMF-JC adopted a wage demand formula that stated wage increases should at least cover the rate of inflation in order to improve the quality of life among workers, tying wage increases to national economic growth.
In 1974, the IMF-JC celebrated its 10th anniversary. It had become an industry-wide union council for the metal manufacturing industry and its membership reached 1.85 million. To reflect the increasing needs of Japanese metalworkers at home, the name of the International Metalworkers' Federation - Japan Council was changed to the present Japan Council of Metalworkers' Unions at the National Convention in September 1975.
|
| 1980-1984 |
Reductions in Working Hours to Cope with Micro-Electronics (ME) |
| November 1980 |
IMF-JC Symposium on International Trades and Trade Unions’ Responses is held. |
| September 1984 |
Brother Yoshiji Miyata resignes as IMF-JC President and Brother Takuhiko Nakamura, President of JSW, is elected as the third IMF-JC President. |
| December 1984 |
IMF-JC Symposium on the ME Revolution is held. |
| May 1985 |
The 25th IMF World Congress is held in Washington, D.C., and Tokyo is chosen as the venue for the following Congress. |
Japan's economy in the early 1980's faced a prolonged recession and severe trade frictions with other countries.
To resolve the issue of trade frictions, the IMF-JC organized the first "Symposium on International Trade Issues and Trade Unions' Responses" in November 1980 to discuss the trade unions' policies choices for tackling the problems caused by the trade imbalance.
In the early 1980's, Japan's economy barely achieved positive growth, despite the second oil crisis. One of the major factors for our economic growth was the rapid structural shift to high-tech integration utilizing micro-electronics.
To respond to the rapid introduction of new technology, and to maintain safety and health, delegates to the National Convention in September 1984 adopted the IMF-JC Guidelines for Technology Reform (Micro-Electronics) which consisted of four major priorities including, 1) employment security and human respect, 2) fair social contributions, 3) a national consensus on the introduction of new technology, and 4) realization of international harmonization.
As new technology was rapidly being introduced at metalworkers' workplaces, the IMF, at its meetings and conferences, endorsed its view that its most urgent task was to keep employment secure by reducing working hours. The National Convention in September 1982 unanimously adopted the "Medium-term Measures for Reducing Working Hours" in order to fight for shorter working hours.
In September 1984, IMF-JC membership exceeded two million. At the 20th anniversary National Convention in September 1984, the presidency of the IMF-JC was shifted from Brother Yoshiji Miyata to Brother Takuhiko Nakamura, President of the JSW.
|
| 1985-1989 |
The 26th IMF World Congress in Tokyo |
| April 1985 |
The first Nordic-Japan Metal Workers’ Consultation is held in Helsinki. |
| June 1985 |
The 26th IMF World Congress is held in Tokyo. |
| October 1986 |
IMF-JC holds its first consultation meeting with members of the House of Representatives and Councilors supported by IMF-JC affiliates. |
| 1987 |
IMF-JC starts to invite trade union leaders from Southeast Asian counties
for study programs. |
| November 1987 |
Inauguration of the Japanese Private-sector Trade Union Confederation (JPTUC-RENGO). |
| 1988 |
IMF-JC starts to invite Korean metalworkers’ study missions. |
| November 1988 |
IMF Matsushita World Council holds its first meeting in Osaka. |
| November 1989 |
Public sector workers merged with JPTUC-RENGO to establish the present JTUC-RENGO |
With its 20-year history of activities, the IMF-JC came to play a more important role not only at home but also on the international level within the framework of the IMF.
In April 1985, the IMF-JC started its annual consultations with Nordic Metal, The Nordic-Japan Metalworkers' Consultation has since been held annually, rotating the venue of the meeting in either Japan or Nordic countries to have a common forum.
As one example of the IMF-JC's achievements in its international activities within the framework of the IMF, it hosted the 26th IMF World Congress in Tokyo in June 1985. A total of 870 delegates from 70 counties all over the world gathered for this congress.
The main theme of the congress was "Trade Unions 2000: Mobilizing for Tomorrow". Delegates to the World Congress held panel discussions on issues such as trade unions' measures to link social causes with international trade, and employment security, organizing drives, and others. Delegates adopted the Thirteen Resolutions on issues such as world peace, human and trade union rights, social and economic policies, technology, trade unions and human needs, new trends in organizing non-manual workers, and developing countries.
The IMF-JC put its utmost efforts into every success of the Congress. It set up a preparatory committee for the IMF Congress as one of the commemorative events for its 20th anniversary. The success of the Congress helped show world IMF affiliates the responsibilities and roles of the IMF-JC as one of the IMF's core members.
Delegates to the National Convention in September 1988 gave their farewells to Brother Ichiro Seto, who resigned the position of IMF-JC General Secretary, and elected Brother Shiro Umehara, General Secretary of Denki Roren, as the new IMF-JC General Secretary, In November 1989, national labor centers were unified to form RENGO (Japanese Trade Unions Confederation-JTUC).
|
| 1990-1994 |
Challenges to the New System |
| September 1990 |
Brother Takuhiko Nakamura resigns and Brother Teruhito Tokumoto, President of JAW, is elected as the forth IMF-JC President. |
| November 1991 |
The first German-Japan Metalworkers’ Consultation is held. |
| December 1991 |
The first Korea-Japan Metalworkers’ Conference is held. |
| June 1993 |
The 28th IMF World Congress is held and the IMF celebrates its 100th anniversary. |
| July 1993 |
Brother Ichiro Seto, Assistant General Secretary of the IMF and Director of the IMF East Asian Office, retires. |
| September 1993 |
The TCM decides that the secretariat of the TCM, which had been located in the IMF-JC, will be moved to RENGO-JTUC in 1994. |
| October 1993 |
IMF-JC holds the first Symposium on New Economic and Social Systems. |
| June 1994 |
IMF-JC holds the 30th Anniversary International Forum. |
At the National Convention in September 1990, Brother Takuhiko Nakamura resigned as IMF-JC President and was succeeded by Brother Teruhito Tokumoto, President of JAW. In November 1989, Zenkikin merged with Zenkoku Kinzoku and the new organization affiliated with the IMF-JC as MMU (Kinzoku Kikai: National Metal and Machinery Workers' Union of Japan). Also the Convention unanimously adopted the affiliation of JEWU (Zendensen: Japan Federation of Electric Wire Workers' Unions) and JMWU (Hitetsu Kinzoku Roren: Japanese Metal Mine Workers' Union) and also welcomed the MMU. The IMF-JC now represented 2.36 million metalworkers from eight industry-wide federations and five enterprise-based unions. The IMF-JC came to occupy the majority of the metal sector in RENGO, the national center, and became a major force.
The IMF-JC Female Committee had actively organized seminars to improve the status of female workers and strengthen the female workers' voice in trade union activities.
In the 1990's, the IMF-JC's international activities were further intensified. In November 1991, the German-Japan Metalworkers' Consultation was launched. At the second consultation held in 1992, the two countries agreed to launch two comparative joint study projects concerning production systems and working conditions. At the third Consultation, specialists among German and Japanese metalworkers gave their intermediate reports.
The IMF-JC also inaugurated the Korea-Japan Metalworkers Conference in December 1992.
The National Convention in September 1992 adopted a vision of challenge called "Building New Economic and Social Systems" to face the 21st Century, giving high priority to living conditions.
In July 1993, the Director of the IMF East Asian Office, Brother Ichiro Seto, retired after being involved in international trade union activities for 36 years, and was succeeded by Brother Seigo Kojima.
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