Photo/Illutration Tomoko Yoshino, second from left, president of Rengo (Japanese Trade Union Confederation), and other officials raise their fists and say “Ganbaro” (Let's do our best) for higher wages in Tokyo’s Kita Ward on Feb. 6 during the annual spring’s “shunto” wage negotiations. (Jumpei Miura)

Labor unions at major automobile companies are demanding workers get their highest pay raise in years amid surging commodity prices that are squeezing household budgets across the nation.

Union officials submitted their requests for wage hikes to the management of major Japanese firms on Feb. 15 during the annual spring “shunto” wage negotiations.

The labor unions of Honda Motor Co. asked for a monthly base pay increase of 12,500 yen ($94), marking their largest demand in 30 years, to reflect inflation.

The amount had already increased by 3,000 yen last year.

The labor unions of Nissan Motor Co. demanded a monthly wage increase of 12,000 yen. It will tie with 2015’s request for the largest pay increase since the current wage system was introduced in 2005.

The unions at Toyota Motor Corp. have not disclosed the specific amount of the increase they are seeking but said it is “the highest level in the past 20 years.”

Unions at major heavy industries such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. and IHI Corp. have already submitted their demands.

Each of the unions asked for a monthly base pay increase of 14,000 yen, which was four times the amount of the preceding year.

The unions of major electronics manufacturers will submit their requests on Feb. 16 and unions for other industries are expected to follow suit.

Labor unions typically receive responses from their companies in mid-March.

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