Reaction of Radical and Co-operative Unions as Japan National Railways Prepares for Privatization

Abstract

The Japan National Railways was a major state-owned enterprise whose history was fraught with conflict between leftist unions and management. This paper addresses the labour relations impact of the Japanese government's decision to prepare it for privatization. This included trimming the workforce and restructuring the railway into a number of regional companies. As intended, the plan has had substantial conse quences for the structures, policies and relative well-being of rival unions, which represent orientations ranging from ideological leftism to pragmatic leftism and 'typical' Japanese unionism. While the most militant union has been crippled by management's use of the historically effective 'second union' strategy, the government's plan may only have succeeded in sowing the seeds for a more difficult situation in the future.