61701 Labor will have no other choice but to obtain wage increases that are closest to their target.
61702 After switching its demand from percentage-based increases to one based on amount from this year's spring offensive, Rengo's target is for 14,000 yen, including an annual pay raise of 5,600 yen.
61703 The wage increase received was 3.13 percent as opposed to the benchmark demand of 5 to 6 percent for the previous year.
61704 It was the lowest raise in the history of the spring offensive.
61705 The reason for the switch of the expression from percentage to amount was that if everyone received the same percentage increase, it would not reduce the wage disparities between the industries with a high basic pay and those with a low one.
61706 One of labor's objectives this year is to raise the basic pay level for the industries where it is low at present.
61707 But this collides head-on with Nikkeiren's argument about the ability of companies to increase wages.
61708 Many of the industries with low basic pay have less capacity to pay.
61709 In addition, if the industrial trade unions, which have a high basic pay and are the pacesetters for wage hikes, are contained, then it may lead to labor's indulgence towards employers.
61710 Moreover, Rengo is strongly promoting the independent agreement between the labor and the management in each industry, which is increasing the complexity of the spring offensive.
61711 Originally, the spring labor offensive was launched with the aim of obtaining wage increases for workers in every industry.
61712 However, Japan has undergone significant changes since the time it began forty years ago.
61713 While it is natural that the ways of the spring offensive has changed, it is desirable to have real wage increase even if only bit by bit.
61714 A society where we can expect a better quality of life, even if only slightly, as long as we maintain a simple and steady lifestyle.