THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
February 14, 2024 at 18:26 JST
Senior officials of the labor unions at Nippon Steel Corp., left, talk with management representatives during the annual spring’s “shunto” wage negotiations in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on Feb. 9. (Ken Miyazaki)
Labor unions at major automobile manufacturers are demanding pay raises at historic levels amid surging commodity prices in the annual wage hike negotiations with management.
Union officials submitted their pay increase requests to the major Japanese firms on Feb. 14 during the spring “shunto” wage negotiations.
The labor unions of Honda Motor Co. asked for a monthly base pay increase of 13,500 yen ($90), marking the highest in 31 years.
The amount exceeds 3 percent of the average wage.
“Commodity prices remain high, so we need to show our resolve for pushing for higher wages,” the unions said.
The total amount, including regular salary increases based on age and years of employment, is 20,000 yen, resulting in an overall wage hike of more than 5 percent.
The labor unions of Toyota Motor Corp. also demanded a base pay increase as they did last year.
They have not disclosed the specific amount of the increase they are seeking but said it is the highest since 1999 when comparable data became available.
The unions presented demands for 17 pay hikes, varying by job type and rank, seeking a maximum monthly wage hike of 28,440 yen, combining base pay and regular salary increases.
The labor unions of Nissan Motor Co. asked for a monthly wage boost of 18,000 yen, the highest since the current wage system was introduced in 2005.
Unions at steel giants--Nippon Steel Corp. and JFE Steel Corp.--have already submitted their requests, seeking a monthly base pay increase of 30,000 yen, the highest in 50 years.
Unions at major heavy industries companies such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. demanded a monthly base pay increase of 18,000 yen.
The unions of electronics giants will submit their requests on Feb. 15.
Labor unions typically receive responses from their companies in mid-March.
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