ENGLISH
- HOME
- ENGLISH
MESSAGE
In the wake of the privatization and corporate breakup of Japanese postal services that happened on October 1, 2007, Japan Postal Group Union (JPGU) was founded on October 22, 2007 with membership of 220,600. The JPGU's membership consists of those workers who are employed by the Japan Post Group and its affiliated companies.
The JPGU considers its most important mission is to pursue "true happiness of members" and to promote the "free and liberal labor movement". While one main goal of JPGU is to support the growth and development of Japan Post Group, our union's main emphasis is to ensure good working conditions and employment security for our members.
As for the East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011, we have received many kinds of supports and words of encouragement from overseas unions. I would like to show our deepest appreciation to you. JPGU continues to give its long-term support to revive and recover the devastated areas. In order to create better future for members, JPGU tries its best efforts to meet the challenges we face now: to achieve an organization
of 300,000 memberships, to legislate postal reform bills, and others.
[President Hiroshi Usuki]
POLICY
Symbolic Phrase
Friendship, Creation, Contribution
In the spirit of friendship, JPGU creates a union and businesses filled with hope, which seeks to contribute to betterment of the life of its members and to help build a fair society.
Basic Principles
JPGU's three viewpoints
Reformist's viewpoint
| • | The attainment of political reform and a citizen-centered society |
| • | The redressing of disparities |
| • | The realization of a gender-equal society |
| • | Contributing to local communities |
| • | The promotion of contributing to social and volunteer activities |
Entrepreneur's viewpoint
| • | Self-reformation toward the breaking up of corporations and the privatization of the Japanese postal services |
| • | Business management to facilitate the integration of the Japan Post Group |
| • | New labor movement linked with business activities |
| • | Productivity improvement |
| • | The development of an educational program |
Trade unionist's viewpoint
| • | Developing the JPGU's labor movement with the input of union members |
| • | The realization of good/improved working conditions after privatization |
| • | Making a stronger and bigger union |
| • | Cooperation with international union movements |
| • | Better and stronger support for union members |
ACTIVITY
To pursue the "true happiness of members"
(1)Achieving the membership of 300,000
For the sustainable business development of Japan Post Group, the employment security and the better working conditions of JPGU
members, JPGU needs to build up a strong union membership of 300,000. Achieving this figure is one of the priority issues to realize the
"true happiness of members." Thus,JPGU is undertaking this purpose at full power.
(2)Negotiation issues
JPGU and Japan Post Group have labor-management consultation committees in which the labor and the management understand and confirm group’s management strategy and policy to have a sustainable development of the Japan Post Group with cooperation between the labor and the management.
In addition, JPGU has collected the opinions and requests from front-line workers and negotiate at the national level in order to improve their working conditions, the environment of workplaces, and so on.
(3)International Labor Movement and UNI
JPGU is affiliated with Union Network International (UNI) that consists of 900 unions and 20 million members across the world. JPGU president Usuki, serving as president of UNI-Apro Post and Logistics, and vice president of UNI-Liaison Council of Japan, is vigorously carrying out international labor movement with UNI colleagues from the global viewpoint.
In 2010, when the 3rd UNI world congress was held in Nagasaki, Japan, a lot of JPGU volunteer members joined to help that congress. JPGU continues to foster union members who are able to play active roles in the international trade union movement.
(4)Youth and Women
Youth Network
Members aged 30 and under belong to the "Youth Network." The role of "Youth Network" is to promote exchanges among youth members in each region and on a national level, and to foster future union leaders through educational and recreational activities geared towards the youth.
Women's Forum
The "Women's Forum" has been created to promote education and exchanges among female members. Through these activities, women members will be able to share with one another issues that are important to them. We believe that female involvement in union activities will enrich the JPGU movement.
(5)JPGU Research Institute
JPGU has its own research organ where postal & logistics, finance, and labor policy issues are studied, the results are then published.
Public Relations
In order to present information about the updated JPGU's activities and JP Group business decisions, its bulletin is usually published on a bi-weekly basis.
A members-only section of the JPGU website is also available, in which members are able to find updated bargaining information, and discover whether they are eligible for special accommodationsaving benefits.
FUTURE
The Creation of the JPGU and its roles
The creation of the JPGU labor movement and our goals
Development of the JPGU's movement
| • | Improvement of union member services |
| • | Constructing a new relationship between labor and management |
| • | Better policy making and writing of better proposals by JPGU |
| • | The JPGU's support of politicians and political groups friendly to our organization |
| • | Achieving better balance between work and one's free time/home life |
| • | The contribution to local communities |
The challenges of the privatized Japan Post and its role in society
Our goals for growth and development of Japan Post Group as an organization based upon entrepreneurism.
Stage of Preparation for Postal Reform
Postal Reform is still deliberating in the Diet. Thus, JPGU has been unable to make further movements based on the postal legislations. On the assumption of passing the law, we set up the period as “the stage of preparation for postal reform,” during which time postal reform will be completed on the basis of postal laws. In the time of “the Stage of Preparation for Postal Reform,” JPGU will renovate its movements corresponded to continuous issues carried over from “the Stage of JPGU’ Creation, and add the following three new matters. They are the ambitious pursuit to (1) organize 300,000 members, (2) build labor-management relationship that works for both sides, and (3) create future postal services in mature society.
ORGANIZATION
Decision-making body and the executive organ
The activities of JPGU are carried out by Central Executive Committee based on determinations of the National Congress and the Central Committee.
National Congress
The Supreme-decision making organ (meets annually)
Central Committee Meeting
The Decision-making body, which is second in importance to the convention (meets biannually)
Central Executive Committee
A body to perform union operations
A secretariat was established under the organ.
Secretariat
Administrative/treasury Bureau
Planning Bureau
Organizing Bureau
Labor Policy Bureau
JPGU Research Institute
Membership
JPGU — 241,880 (As of July, 2011)
Japan Post Group
Membership in group companies
Japan Post Holdings — 1,660
Japan Post Service — 135,180
Japan Post Network — 86,500
Japan Post Bank — 9,740
Japan Post Insurance — 4,870
Mail transportation companies — 3,930
Regional Organization
JPGU has 13 regional organizations which support local union members.
— Hokkaido
— Tohoku
— Kanto
— Minami-Kanto
— Tokyo
— Shin'etsu
— Tokai
— Hokuriku
— Kinki
— Chugoku
— Shikoku
— Kyushu
— Okinawa
[Date of issue: October 2011]
