2024 New Year Message from the President

Jichiroren celebrates 35th anniversary
Achieve further progress by nationwide efforts

Shingo Sakurai
President,
Japan Federation of Prefectural and Municipal Workers’ Union

We wish you a Happy New Year.

 The Japan Federation of Prefectural and Municipal Workers’ Unions (Jichiroren) will celebrate its 35th anniversary on March 17 this year. Since its foundation, Jichiroren has built up all kinds of movements as the organization encouraging all municipal workers to make demands and to unite. Last year, its campaign to improve wages and working conditions of fiscal year-term appointment staff achieved landmark results, although there remains much to be done.

As residents’ lives and livelihoods have faced difficulties due to the spread of Covid-19 infections, Jichiroren members have campaigned in workplaces and communities under the slogan “Without the prosperity of residents, there is no true happiness for municipal workers.” Making steady progress, their efforts have highlighted the importance of the public service and shaped public opinion. The year 2023 was when the movement formed public opinion and the public opinion moved politics. This year, let us develop our movement, realize our demands, and work toward a society with better public services for residents and employees.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip continue to this day, killing the lives of a large number of people and destroying the cultures and streetscapes that had been built over the years.
 Meanwhile, Japan’s Kishida administration, which has been shaken by slush fund scandals, is trying to turn the Japanese archipelago into a stronghold for U.S. military strategy and using a large amount of tax money to prepare for war.
We need to spread public opinion calling for an immediate halt to all wars. Let us urge the Japanese government to make diplomatic efforts based on the Japanese Constitution, block its preparation for war, and strive for a society where all people can live in peace and without anxiety.
Let us join forces to promote a movement for a society that makes full use of the Japanese Constitution and local autonomy as well as improves public services. We look forward to continuing to work with you all this year.

 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip continue to this day, killing the lives of a large number of people and destroying the cultures and streetscapes that had been built over the years.

 Meanwhile, Japan’s Kishida administration, which has been shaken by slush fund scandals, is trying to turn the Japanese archipelago into a stronghold for U.S. military strategy and using a large amount of tax money to prepare for war.

 We need to spread public opinion calling for an immediate halt to all wars. Let us urge the Japanese government to make diplomatic efforts based on the Japanese Constitution, block its preparation for war, and strive for a society where all people can live in peace and without anxiety.

 Let us join forces to promote a movement for a society that makes full use of the Japanese Constitution and local autonomy as well as improves public services. We look forward to continuing to work with you all this year.