The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-04-06
JAPAN WORKERS
DRIVEN TO LEFT
BY HARD TIMES
Strikes of Long Duras-
ton Waged by Unions

TOXIC, April 5.-The economic
crisis in Japan during the last few
months of 1926 fostered the swing
of the masses to the left. This left
ward movement of the masses had
been greatly helped by the increasing
consolidation Of industrial and finan-
cial institutions. On the one hand
this helped the capitalists to fight
more successfully against the work
ers. On the other hand the revolu-
tionary feeling Of the working masses
continued to grow. 1t was expressed
in many strikes of incredible duration
and obstinacy.
During the first half of the year
there we're 400 disputes Of Which 152
turned into strikes. The strike move
ment involved S6,117 workers. COM
pairing this with the same period Of
the previous year, the number of
strikes increased by los. The tao
tics adopted by the strikers consid-
erably changed. The strikes of the
past year were well organized. They
were led for the greater part by trade
unions mainly of the left wing.
Popular Sympathy.
The strike committees carried sout
wide agitation, drawing to aid of the
strikers, WORKERS in other enterprises
and even obtained the sympathy of
the wide masses of, the population.
OF the strikes that occurred during
the first half of 1926, we should note
the long drawn out strikes in the
copper mines belonging to the Bessy
Company (10S days. at the Asiatic
Schoe Factory go days., in the
printing establishment of Kedo in
Toxic (67 days. in the factory of
musical instruments in Khamamatzu
(105 days. and also the many strikes
that occurred in textile and other in
dustries.
The chief reasons for these strikes
were demands to regulate wages and
TO improve labor conditions.
Right To Organize.
Together with these economic de-
mands the workers fought for the
right to organize themselves in trade
unions, for the reinstatement of dis
missed comrades who had been active
in the strike movement, for a change
in labor legislations for collective
bargaining etc. However, the crisis
in Japanese industrial life, the divi-
sion in the Japanese labor movement
coupled with the treacherous role Of
the right leaders could not be con-
ductive to the success Of the strike
movement. These strikes during the
past year were often ended in defeat
for the workers.
Numerical Strength Growing.
During the past year the number
of organized workers has consider
ably grown. The numerical strength
of the left trade union centres--TIiog-
ikay-has grown from 1890 TO 3D.
600, while Bodomay---the refornist
organization--from $4,000 TO S5,00s.
Sodomay, in excluding it's eensrsts,
who subsequently folnsi the Nikhon
Ronoto decreased it's membership by
$4,000. When one remembers that
all the underhand forces OF Japan,
beginning with fhe police and fas-
cists and ending with fhe reowists
were linked up against Che Hiogikay,
it becomes very clear that HiogikaS
has grown considerably more than
Sodomay.
The general total of organized
workers in Japan, nevertheless con-
tinues to be very insignificant. Al
together there are 100000 industrial
workers, organized in trade unions
and this out of general total of
approximately Az million industrial
workers.