Labor Union Demands to TV Stations 01

There are many different types of labor unions.
The labor union that Harada belonged to inherited the theories of the postwar independent film movement and Marx. Of course, freedom of thought and belief was guaranteed in the rules.
But labor unions are all different.
Right-wing labor unions like ”Rengo” tell members how to vote in elections, force them to support particular parties, and even invite the far-right LDP prime minister to May Day celebrations. There are also more radical New Left labor unions.
Ultimately, we believe that the choice of organization is a matter of personal judgment.

Eisanro, which Harada belonged to, cooperated with other labor unions in the film, animation, theater, and stage art production industries to make demands on major TV stations in Tokyo every year.

In the postwar period through the 1970s, labor unions engaged in intense actions such as “"団体交渉/団交(collective bargaining)" and "争議(disputes)."
In the 1980s, influenced by the LDP government's anti-labor movement and anti-left PR, young people began to avoid labor unions and to find their activities "scary."

Therefore, at the suggestion of O, the representative of Eienkyoto, an attempt was made to realize a gentlemanly meeting.
The names of the activities were also softened, such as "request action" and "proposal action."

Even so, in the early days, each TV station (especially the conservative Fuji TV) turned away several labor unions that visited the stations.
However, as labor union members persisted and repeatedly visited TV stations, the turning away at the door changed to short conversations on benches in the lobby, and eventually some stations even let union members into conference rooms and offered tea.

Some people who had experience with the militant labor activities of the past might call this a defeat for labor unions, but Harada thought that various forms should exist.
Harada continued to publish the details of discussions with TV stations on his blog.
During his high school days, Harada, who was a member of the newspaper club and the student council, disliked closed-door discussions and always preferred to make information public.
However, perhaps having read the blog, at the next meeting some TV stations adopted a tactic of silence when asked by the union.

The following is a record of meetings held in the 2000s between several film, theater, and animation labor unions and TV stations.
It also includes Harada's remarks.

Eisanro, which Harada joined, was a labor union that was open to any freelancer working in the culture industry.

Harada was active as a labor union member while working on "MIDORI," "Horizon Blue," and "Zashikiro," as well as while working for an animation company, a TV station, and an advertising agency.

If some union members were to dedicate their free time to various activities and as a result their demands were realized, both union members and non-union members would benefit equally.
But even if this were to happen, it would be difficult to eliminate people's aversion to labor unions.
However, unless someone speaks up, various problems will remain invisible.

We are old and it is tiring to write long articles, so from next time we will upload them little by little as a record.

To be continued