自動車・電機で5年ぶり賃上げ | 英語のニュース

National News

Firms OK first raises since 2001

Production workers at major automakers and electronics companies won increases in basic monthly pay March 15 for the first time in five years.

The wage hikes differ sharply among companies. In previous negotiations, it was customary for firms in the same sector to act in unison.

Toyota agreed to a ¥1,000 rise in basic pay, while Honda Motor Co. agreed to a basic wage hike of ¥600.

In response to uniform demands for a ¥2,000 basic wage hike in the electronics sector, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Hitachi Ltd. each offered a ¥500 increase and Fujitsu Ltd. proposed a ¥1,000 increase.

But steelmakers, shipbuilders and heavy machinery makers did not respond to demands for higher pay from their unions.

The "shunto" industrywide wage talks held each spring have been a fixture on the labor-management scene for over 50 years, but they have lost most of their significance as organized labor lost ground during the prolonged recession after the collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990s.

The relatively generous pay offers by the major car and electrical appliance makers reflect strong corporate earnings and an improving economy. (Kyodo)

Shukan ST: March 24, 2006

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National News Firms OK first raises since 2001 Production workers at major automakers and electronics companies won increases in basic monthly pay March 15 for the first time in five years. The wage hikes differ sharply among companies. In previous negotiations, it was customary for firms in the same sector to act in unison. Toyota agreed to a ¥1,000 rise in basic pay, while Honda Motor Co. agreed to a basic wage hike of ¥600. In response to uniform demands for a ¥2,000 basic wage hike in the electronics sector, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Hitachi Ltd. each offered a ¥500 increase and Fujitsu Ltd. proposed a ¥1,000 increase. But steelmakers, shipbuilders and heavy machinery makers did not respond to demands for higher pay from their unions. The "shunto" industrywide wage talks held each spring have been a fixture on the labor-management scene for over 50 years, but they have lost most of their significance as organized labor lost ground during the prolonged recession after the collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990s. The relatively generous pay offers by the major car and electrical appliance makers reflect strong corporate earnings and an improving economy. (Kyodo) Shukan ST: March 24, 2006 (C) All rights reserved