The , commonly known as , is the largest
national trade union center
A national trade union center (or national center or central) is a federation or confederation of trade unions in a country. Nearly every country in the world has a national trade union center, and many have more than one. In some regions, such a ...
in
Japan, with over six million members as of 2011.
[Rengo websit]
Rengo brochure 2010-2011
Retrieved on July 6, 2012 It was founded in 1989 as a result of the merger of the
Japan Confederation of Labor (''Domei''), the
Federation of Independent Unions (''Churitsuroren'') and the
National Federation Of Industrial Organisations
The National Federation Of Industrial Organisations (FIO, ja, 全国産業別労働組合連合, Shinsambetsu) was a national trade union federation in Japan.
The federation was a split from Sanbetsu, which took place in 1952. Always a small org ...
(''Shinsambetsu''). In 1990, the
General Council of Trade Unions of Japan
A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED O ...
(''Sohyo'') also joined RENGO.
As of July 2012, RENGO has 54 affiliate unions and 47 local organizations.
[Rengo websit]
Role and Function
Retrieved on July 6, 2012
Party affiliation
RENGO was historically affiliated with the
Democratic Party of Japan
The was a centristThe Democratic Party of Japan was widely described as centrist:
*
*
*
*
*
*
* to centre-left liberal or social-liberal political party in Japan from 1998 to 2016.
The party's origins lie in the previous Democratic ...
, but on June 28, 2012, president
Nobuaki Koga
is a Japanese unionist. From 2009 to 2015, he served as president of Rengo, the largest national trade union federation in Japan, having previously been its general secretary.
Prior to Rengo leadership
Koga was born in Fukuoka, and studied engine ...
made a speech at the
Liberal Democratic Party headquarters stating that the confederation may reconsider its future.
In 2014, it endorsed LDP-supported candidate
Yoichi Masuzoe Yoichi may refer to:
*Yōichi, Japanese given name
*, district in Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō Prefecture, Japan
*, town in Yoichi District
*, a Japanese whisky distillery in the town
*, train station in Yoichi District
* also Yoichi is a masculine Japane ...
for the
Tokyo gubernatorial election.
Affiliated organizations
Current affiliates
Many unions are affiliated with RENGO:
[Rengo websit]
Affiliates
Retrieved on July 6, 2012
Observer affiliate:
* DOKIRO Hokkaido Seasonal Workers' Union (2,660 members as of 2009)
Friendly affiliate:
* NIKKENKYO Council of Japan Construction Industry Employee's Unions (35,624 members as of 2009)
Former affiliates
Local organizations
RENGO also has local organizations for each of Japan's 47
prefectures
A prefecture (from the Latin ''Praefectura'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international ...
.
Leadership
General Secretaries
*Seigo Yamada (1989–1993)
*Etsuya Washio (1993–1997)
*Kiyoshi Sasamori (1997–2001)
*Hiroyuki Nagumo (2001–2013)
*Rikio Kozu (2013–2015)
*Naoto Omi (2015–2017)
*Yasunobu Aihara (2017–2021)
*Hideyuki Shimizu (2021—Present)
Presidents
*
Akira Yamagishi was a Japanese trade union leader who served as the first president of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation from 1989 to 1994.
Born in Osaka, Yamagishi began working in a telegram office, and joined the Japan Telecommunications Workers' Union. ...
(1989–1995)
*Jinnosuke Ashida (1995–1997)
*Etsuya Washio (1997–2001)
*Kiyoshi Sasamori (2001–2005)
*Tsuyoshi Takagi (2005–2009)
*
Nobuaki Koga
is a Japanese unionist. From 2009 to 2015, he served as president of Rengo, the largest national trade union federation in Japan, having previously been its general secretary.
Prior to Rengo leadership
Koga was born in Fukuoka, and studied engine ...
(2009–2015)
*Rikio Kozu (2015–2021)
*
Tomoko Yoshino (2021—Present)
See also
*
Labor unions in Japan
Labour unions emerged in Japan in the second half of the Meiji period, after 1890, as the country underwent a period of rapid industrialization.Nimura, K''The Formation of Japanese Labor Movement: 1868-1914''(Translated by Terry Boardman). Retrie ...
References
;Sources
Rengo website*
External links
*
Japanese Trade Union Confederation
{{Authority control
National trade union centers of Japan
International Trade Union Confederation
Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD
Trade unions established in 1989