Saturday 20, November, 2004, 09:30-18:30, (16:00-17:00, Q&A) No.3 CR
Sunday 21, November, 2004, 09:30-12:30, No.3 CR
Poster Sessions
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Paul Jobin
INSERM, University of Paris 7, France
ABSTRACT
If we consider industrial pollution and the waning of trade-union representation as two major issues of industrialized societies, then the case of Japan is an interesting one.
By the end of the 1950s, the majority of Japanese labor unions had chosen the path of cooperationism" (roshi kyocho rosen), refusing to recognize the victims of industrial pollution resulting from production-first banzai policies. Cooperationism also compelled industrial workers affected by occupational disease to accept this as the price to pay for good wages and"company welfare".
In Minamata, however, after a first period of passivity, refusal of such a cooperationist policy with management led many Chisso chemical factory workers to mobilize in favor of victims of the pollution caused by their "own" factory. That was the "Minamata disease", caused by the poisoning of sea fauna by mercury waste. Legal proceedings were engaged, but beyond monetary compensation, the intricate link between pollution and the context of work was taken into account. A new state of mind had emerged: a new spirit, both subtle and radical, had arisen among workers.
In the same way, young labor unionists of industrial areas like Tokyo and Osaka, gradually won significant victories for the recognition and prevention of industrial diseases. Through the creation of networking community unions, they managed to cross the threshold of the subcontractors' universe, which until then had been disregarded by the leading labor unions.
In addition, they intervened in major issues such as pollution export or the links between occupational hazards and environmental crisis. A leading pioneer of this movement was Tajiri Muneaki who played a decisive role in publicizing the asbestos scandal and the creation of JOSCHRC (Japan Occupational Safety and Health Resource Center), and whose disciples are the main organizers of GAC 2004 in Tokyo.