17,000 dockworkers are on strike in Japanese seaports at the call of the Nationwide Federation of Dockworkers' Unions and the All-Japan Union of Dockworkers and Transport Workers. This is reported by foreign media.
Loading operations at all ports in Japan have been halted during the strike, which will last 24 hours from April 20 to April 21.
The strikes were caused by the refusal of employers to meet the demands of trade unions to increase wages by 10% (30 thousand yen or $210) per month and starting salaries up to 220 thousand yen ($1,545) per month.
Strikes of a similar nature were held on March 30 and April 13, but since these were Sundays, the consequences of the strikes were less significant.
The Japanese Port Transport Association, which represents the interests of employers, expressed its intention to continue negotiations with trade unions in order to mitigate the results of the protests.
