Japanese base workers call for new strike

[unhappycamper]

Japanese base workers call for new strike
By Carl Freire - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Nov 29, 2007 17:39:35 EST

TOKYO — A union representing more than 16,000 Japanese workers at U.S. military bases in Japan called Thursday for a one-day strike to protest Tokyo’s plan to cut their benefits.

Japan covers some of the costs of the U.S. bases in the country under an agreement with Washington, and Tokyo wants to tighten the budget supporting the 50,000 U.S. troops here.

The All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union said it was calling for a 24-hour strike Friday because the Japanese government has not responded to questions about discussions between different ministries about the issue.

The union carried out a one-day strike Nov. 21 in response to a proposal the government made last month to cut benefits. The action was the first nationwide strike at U.S. bases in Japan since 1991, according to the union.

The budget cuts being reviewed include a monthly benefit worth 10 percent of each worker’s salary and a special benefit of up to $54 a month, depending on the worker’s fluency in English.

A Japanese Defense Ministry spokeswoman said Friday’s strike was likely to affect the bases’ operations, but declined to speculate on the potential scale of the impact.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/11/ap_japanworkers_071129/