Japan: Auto workers ask for wage hike

Labor unions and management of Japan’s automakers have begun their annual wage negotiations. Union representatives from Fuji Heavy Industries presented their demands at the firm’s headquarters in Tokyo on Wednesday. They’re asking for an average raise of 3,000 yen, or about 26 dollars, in monthly base pay and an annual bonus equal to 6.5 months’ wages. Leading automaker unions are asking for a raise in monthly base pay for a third straight year. But this year, they kept the figure to around 26 dollars — about half what they demanded last year. They kept the demand lower so that it can be accepted by management of medium-sized and small parts makers, and lead to higher wages throughout the auto industry. Japanese automakers including Fuji, Toyota, Mazda and Suzuki are expected to post record-high operating profits for the year ending in March. But the extent to which management will accept union...

February 17, 2016

Labor unions and management of Japan’s automakers have begun their annual wage negotiations.

Union representatives from Fuji Heavy Industries presented their demands at the firm’s headquarters in Tokyo on Wednesday.

They’re asking for an average raise of 3,000 yen, or about 26 dollars, in monthly base pay and an annual bonus equal to 6.5 months’ wages.

Leading automaker unions are asking for a raise in monthly base pay for a third straight year. But this year, they kept the figure to around 26 dollars — about half what they demanded last year.

They kept the demand lower so that it can be accepted by management of medium-sized and small parts makers, and lead to higher wages throughout the auto industry.

Japanese automakers including Fuji, Toyota, Mazda and Suzuki are expected to post record-high operating profits for the year ending in March.

But the extent to which management will accept union demands is uncertain. The industry faces uncertainty including economic slowdowns in emerging countries and rapid appreciation of the yen.

Labor unions of electronics makers are expected to present their demands on Thursday.