
The Japan Postal Group Union is a significant movement in Japan, with a long history dating back to 1871 when the postal system was first established.
The union's primary goal is to improve working conditions and wages for postal workers, who have been facing declining job security and benefits in recent years.
One of the key issues driving the union's movement is the increasing workload and stress experienced by postal workers, particularly during peak holiday seasons.
This has led to a growing number of postal workers seeking better working conditions and a more sustainable work-life balance.
Japan Postal Group
The Japan Postal Group is a significant player in the country's labor landscape. It will be formed by the merger of two post office workers' unions. The new union will have a massive 220,000 members, making it Japan's largest labor union.
The Japan Postal Group Union will be the result of a merger between the Japan Postal Workers' Union and the All Japan Postal Labor Union. The two unions have a combined total of 220,000 members.

The privatization of Japan Post on October 1 is the catalyst for this merger. Japan Post will break up into four firms and a holding company after privatization.
The Japan Postal Group Union will be a powerful force in the labor market. It will eclipse the All NTT Workers Union of Japan, which currently has 180,000 members.
The new union will have a strong bargaining position due to its size. It will be able to negotiate better working conditions and benefits for its members.
JPGU Movement Development
The JPGU movement is focused on making a positive impact on the lives of its members and the communities it serves. The union has identified several key areas for development.
Improving union member services is a top priority for JPGU. This includes providing better support and resources to help members navigate their careers and personal lives.
Constructing a new relationship between labor and management is also a key goal. This involves finding ways to work together more effectively and build trust.

JPGU is committed to making better policy and writing stronger proposals. This helps the union advocate more effectively for its members and the community.
The JPGU movement also involves supporting politicians and political groups that are friendly to the organization. This helps ensure that the union's interests are represented in government.
Achieving a better balance between work and personal life is an important aspect of the JPGU movement. This can involve finding ways to reduce stress and increase flexibility.
The JPGU movement also involves contributing to local communities. This can involve volunteering, donating resources, and advocating for community needs.
Here are some of the key areas of focus for the JPGU movement:
- Improvement of union member services
- Constructing a new relationship between labor and management
- Better policy making and writing of better proposals
- The JPGU's support of politicians and political groups friendly to our organization
- Achieving better balance between work and one's free time/home life
- The contribution to local communities
Organization
The Japan Postal Group Union has a clear organizational structure. The Central Executive Committee is responsible for carrying out the union's activities based on determinations from the National Congress and the Central Committee.
The union has a strong regional presence, with 13 regional organizations supporting local members. These regions include Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Minami-Kanto, Tokyo, Shinetsu, Tokai, Hokuriku, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa.
Japan Postal Group Overview

The Japan Postal Group Union is set to be formed on October 22, after the merger of two post office workers' unions, the Japan Postal Workers' Union and the All Japan Postal Labor Union.
The new union will have around 220,000 members, making it Japan's largest labor union. This is a significant increase from the current largest union, the All NTT Workers Union of Japan, which has 180,000 members.
The two unions were formerly rivals, but they cooperated on opposing the privatization of Japan Post in 2005. After the privatization legislation was enacted, they began considering a merger to increase their bargaining power.
The privatization of Japan Post is set to take place on October 1, and it will break up into four firms and a holding company. The new union will refrain from dividing itself into company-by-company unions.
The merger is a strategic move to increase the unions' bargaining power and protect the interests of their members.
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Japan Postal Group Structure

The Japan Postal Group has a unique structure. The Central Executive Committee is the decision-making body that oversees the activities of the group.
The group is divided into 13 regional organizations, each supporting local union members. These regions include Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, and many others.
The Hokkaido and Tohoku regions are part of the group's regional structure. The group also has a presence in Okinawa Prefecture.
The All Japan Postal Labor Union and the Japan Postal Workers' Union are considering a merger. This merger would create the nation's largest labor union with around 220,000 members.
The merged union would surpass the All NTT Workers Union of Japan, which has 180,000 members.
Human Rights Impact
The Japan Postal Group Union is committed to addressing human rights issues in their business operations. They have identified priority issues through a thorough Human Rights Impact Assessment.
The union has mapped latent and overt human rights risks associated with their businesses, including postal services, logistics, banking, and insurance. This comprehensive approach ensures they address all potential concerns.

They have also conducted an employee awareness questionnaire on business and human rights, which received a 90% response rate from 965 employees. The top three human rights issues chosen by employees were insufficient or unpaid wages, excessive or unreasonable working hours, and power harassment and sexual harassment.
The union is taking proactive steps to mitigate these risks, including employee education and training, internal environment and systems improvements, and monitoring and review of human rights issues.
Here are the priority issues identified by the Japan Postal Group Union, categorized by stakeholder:
Pursuing True Happiness
JPGU aims to build a strong union membership of 300,000 to achieve true happiness for its members.
This goal is a top priority for JPGU, as it's essential for the sustainable business development of Japan Post Group and the better working conditions of JPGU members.
JPGU has labor-management consultation committees that facilitate cooperation between labor and management to achieve a sustainable development of Japan Post Group.

These committees ensure that both parties understand and confirm the group's management strategy and policy.
JPGU collects opinions and requests from front-line workers and negotiates at the national level to improve working conditions and the environment of workplaces.
By doing so, JPGU fosters a positive work environment that contributes to the true happiness of its members.
JPGU is affiliated with Union Network International (UNI), which consists of 900 unions and 20 million members worldwide.
This affiliation enables JPGU to participate in international labor movements and promote the interests of its members globally.
The youth network, comprising members aged 30 and under, plays a crucial role in promoting exchanges among youth members and fostering future union leaders.
This network organizes educational and recreational activities tailored to the youth, helping them develop essential skills and leadership qualities.
JPGU's bulletin is published bi-weekly, keeping members informed about the union's activities and Japan Post Group's business decisions.
The members-only section of the JPGU website provides updated bargaining information and special accommodation-saving benefits, making it easier for members to access essential resources.
Human Rights Impact Assessment

The Japan Post Group, one of the largest workforces in Japan, operates a variety of businesses, including postal services, logistics, banking, and insurance, through about 24,000 post offices nationwide.
Human rights impact assessments are crucial for identifying priority issues that may arise from these business activities. The Japan Post Group identifies priority issues by mapping latent and overt human rights risks associated with their businesses.
To map these risks, the Group draws on various guidelines, external literature reviews, employee awareness questionnaires, assessment surveys of major subsidiaries, and the expertise of external consultants. This comprehensive approach helps ensure that all potential risks are considered.
The Group's priority issues include insufficient or unpaid wages, excessive or unreasonable working hours, power harassment and sexual harassment, and occupational health and safety issues, among others.
The following table highlights the priority issues for each stakeholder group:
The Japan Post Group also conducts employee awareness questionnaires to identify potential human rights issues. In FY2022, the Group conducted a questionnaire that received a response rate of approximately 90% from 965 employees.
Labor Relations

The Japan Post Group Union takes labor rights seriously, respecting the right to unionize and collective bargaining in accordance with the Constitution of Japan and the Labor Union Act.
Approximately 340,000 employees, or 91.6% of employees from four companies, are eligible for collective bargaining and agreement.
Collective bargaining is carried out for varied working conditions, including wages and working hours, ensuring equality between labor and management.
The Japan Post Group pays a wage superior to the minimum wage of the region and a fair wage according to jobs, allowing employees and their families to lead a richer life.
The group also conducts labor-management consultations every year to improve the wage level, including salaries, bonuses, and benefits.
The Japan Post Group Union will have around 220,000 members after the privatization of Japan Post, making it Japan's largest labor union.
Labor/Management Relations
The Japan Post Group has a strong commitment to labor rights, respecting the right to unionize and collective bargaining in accordance with the Constitution of Japan and the Labor Union Act.

Approximately 340,000 employees, or about 91.6% of all employees in four companies, are eligible for collective bargaining and agreement. This includes employees of Japan Post Holdings, Japan Post, Japan Post Bank, and Japan Post Insurance.
The Japan Post Group has a labor union, the Japan Postal Group Union, which plays a key role in collective bargaining for better working conditions, such as wages and working hours.
Largest Postal Workers Plan
The largest postal workers plan is taking shape in Japan. Two post office workers' unions have agreed to merge and form Japan's largest labor union, with 220,000 members.
This merger is a result of the privatization of Japan Post on October 1. The two unions, Japan Postal Workers' Union and All Japan Postal Labor Union, voted in favor of the plan.
The Japan Postal Workers' Union has 136,000 members, while the All Japan Postal Labor Union has 84,000 members. Together, they will form the Japan Postal Group Union on October 22.

The new union will surpass the All NTT Workers Union of Japan, which currently has 180,000 members. This merger will increase their bargaining power, which was one of the main reasons they decided to come together.
The two unions were once rivals, but they put aside their differences to oppose the privatization of Japan Post in 2005. After the privatization legislation was enacted, they began considering a merger to strengthen their position.
The Japan Postal Group Union will not divide itself into company-by-company unions, unlike Japan Post which will break up into four firms and a holding company after privatization.
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