Labor unions composed of healthcare workers across Japan have gone on strike, citing insufficient responses from management regarding wage increases.
On Thursday, 146 member unions affiliated with the Japan Federation of Medical Workers' Unions went on strike at hospitals and clinics across the country.
The labor union of Yoyogi Hospital in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward carried out a strike for an hour in the morning after the hospital's management failed to meet the union's demand for an increase of 40,000 yen, or about 270 dollars, in base wages during negotiations on Wednesday.
About 60 workers, including nurses and other medical staff, gathered in front of the hospital, where they were informed that the management only offered a regular salary increase of about 2 percent and reduced bonuses.
Afterward, the workers staged a rally at a nearby station, holding placards calling for a raise on par with other industries and collecting signatures.
At hospitals elsewhere in Japan where strikes were carried out, measures were taken to ensure that the minimum necessary staff members remained on duty.
However, operations were reportedly affected at some hospitals, resulting in longer waiting times in outpatient services.
The leader of the labor union of Yoyogi Hospital, Yoshikawa Akito, said that healthcare workers are struggling to manage the situation on-site as those discontent with their wages leave to work in other jobs. He said that his union will seek wage increases that are in line with other industries.
On Thursday, 146 member unions affiliated with the Japan Federation of Medical Workers' Unions went on strike at hospitals and clinics across the country.
The labor union of Yoyogi Hospital in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward carried out a strike for an hour in the morning after the hospital's management failed to meet the union's demand for an increase of 40,000 yen, or about 270 dollars, in base wages during negotiations on Wednesday.
About 60 workers, including nurses and other medical staff, gathered in front of the hospital, where they were informed that the management only offered a regular salary increase of about 2 percent and reduced bonuses.
Afterward, the workers staged a rally at a nearby station, holding placards calling for a raise on par with other industries and collecting signatures.
At hospitals elsewhere in Japan where strikes were carried out, measures were taken to ensure that the minimum necessary staff members remained on duty.
However, operations were reportedly affected at some hospitals, resulting in longer waiting times in outpatient services.
The leader of the labor union of Yoyogi Hospital, Yoshikawa Akito, said that healthcare workers are struggling to manage the situation on-site as those discontent with their wages leave to work in other jobs. He said that his union will seek wage increases that are in line with other industries.
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Summary
146 Japanese healthcare unions across the country went on strike, protesting insufficient wage increases from management. The labor union at Yoyogi Hospital in Tokyo, specifically, demanded a 40,000 yen increase in base wages but received only a 2% salary hike and reduced bonuses during
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ID: 0c045f1c-5800-46f2-af2b-e3f5c15b6af4
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240314_25/
Date: March 14, 2024
Created: 2024/03/15 06:30
Updated: 2025/12/08 16:28
Last Read: 2024/03/15 11:52