Sanbetsu

Sanbetsu was founded in August 1946. During its early phase it counted with around 1.5 million members. Sanbetsu was organized on initiative of the Japanese Communist Party, and the key leaders of the organization were communists. The organization was able to mobilize a large section of white-collar workers in government and civil service sectors. Salaries in the public sectors were about a half of salaries in the private sector, a fact that enabled the public sector to become a centre of radical trade unionism. Sanbetsu also established a foothold in the transportation sector.Scalapino, Robert A. [https://books.google.com/books?id=WrjFsd9S_qIC The Japanese Communist Movement, 1920–1966]. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1967. p. 68 Kokurō ('National Railway Workers Union') was an important Sanbetsu union.Takemae, Eiji, and Robert Ricketts. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ba5hXsfeyhMC&pg=PA323 The Allied Occupation of Japan]. New York [u.a.]: Continuum, 2003. p. 323

In October 1946 Sanbetsu launched an offensive wave of strikes. Over one hundred strikes, involving around 180,000 workers, were organized.Gordon, Andrew. [https://books.google.com/books?id=l1OHSEpkbCEC&pg=PA9 The Wages of Affluence: Labor and Management in Postwar Japan]. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1998. p. 9 The energy, coal mine and electrical equipment industry sectors were centres of strike activity.Burkett, Paul, and Martin Hart-Landsberg. [https://books.google.com/books?id=swyN82Zp_jwC&pg=PA90 Development, Crisis, and Class Struggle: Learning from Japan and East Asia]. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000. p. 90 The key demands of the "October labour offensive" was establishment of minimum wage based on cost of living, improved retirement-pay system and democratization of the energy industry.Hein, Laura Elizabeth. [https://books.google.com/books?id=gb5yfyMoJIYC&pg=PA99 Fueling Growth: The Energy Revolution and Economic Policy in Postwar Japan]. Harvard East Asian monographs, 147. Cambridge, Mass: Council on East Asian Studies, Harvard University, 1990. p. 99 In the midst of the October offensive Hosoya Matsuta (deputy general secretary of Sanbetsu) declared that the struggle of the unions was no longer merely economic but also political.Gerteis, Christopher. [https://books.google.com/books?id=tBiYNdp-esEC&pg=PA20 Gender Struggles Wage-Earning Women and Male-Dominated Unions in Postwar Japan]. Cambridge, MA [u.a.]: Harvard University Asia Center, 2009. p. 20 He declared that the unions would topple the Yoshida cabinet through a general strike and establish a popular democratic government.Kume, Ikuno. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2UyxLDm75FoC&pg=PA55 Disparaged success: labor politics in postwar Japan]. 1998. pp. 55-56 Following the October offensive two Sanbetsu unions, Kokurō and Zentei ('Communication Ministry Workers Union'), launched a struggle for higher salaries. During this campaign calls for the overthrow of Yoshida were raised.Harari, Ehud. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2zAKqWiuciIC&pg=PA61 The Politics of Labor Legislation in Japan]. Berkeley [usw.]: University of California Press, 1973. p. 61 By the end of the year, Sanbetsu was clearly the dominant force in the Japanese labour movement.

Sanbetsu took part in the Economic Recovery Conference together with other unions and employers' organizations. However, the organization was reluctant to become part of the corporativist system that the Economic Recovery Conference projected.

File:Yashiro Ii.JPG

Sanbetsu planned a major general strike for February 1, 1947. Hosoya Matsuta and the Kokurō leader Ii Yashiro founded Zentō ('Joint Strike Action National Committee'), consisting of Sanbetsu, Sodomei, Nichirō Kaigi, the Communist Party and the Japan Socialist Party. The demand of the strike was improvement of conditions for public sector employees. Four million workers were expected to take part in the strike. During the preparations for the strike, the political atmosphere was tense. The Sanbetsu president was severely wounded in an assassination attempt in January 1947.Flath, David. [https://books.google.com/books?id=8yXBx1ZkvasC&pg=PA79 The Japanese Economy]. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. p. 79

However, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers intervened and blocked the strike, claiming that the strike was contrary to the welfare of the Japanese people. The preparations for the strike had led to divisions between communists and non-communists within Sanbetsu. In its aftermath, the failed strike resulted in a political backlash for Sanbetsu and the Communist Party. Restrictions on union organizing in the public sector was imposed and key communists were fired from their employments. As a result, defections and splits occurred in Sanbetsu.Scalapino, Robert A. [https://books.google.com/books?id=WrjFsd9S_qIC The Japanese Communist Movement, 1920–1966]. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1967. p. 69

Sanbetsu opposed Japanese re-entry into the International Labour Organization.Harari, Ehud. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2zAKqWiuciIC&pg=PA80 The Politics of Labor Legislation in Japan]. Berkeley [usw.]: University of California Press, 1973. p. 80

In 1948, dissidents of Sanbetsu founded Sanbetsu Mindō ('League for the Democratization of Sanbetsu'), opposed to the dominance of the Communist Party in Sanbetsu.Yamamoto, Mari. [https://books.google.com/books?id=iyZolPI3Ce4C&pg=PA36 Grassroots Pacifism in Post-War Japan: The Rebirth of a Nation]. London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2004. p. 36 Hosoya Matsuta led the rebellion. The Mindō movement began in Kokurō.Harari, Ehud. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2zAKqWiuciIC&pg=PA70 The Politics of Labor Legislation in Japan]. Berkeley [usw.]: University of California Press, 1973. p. 70 The development of the Mindō movement was actively encouraged by the American occupation authorities. In 1949 the Mindō movement was expelled from Sanbetsu, but the strength of Sanbetsu had been severely curtailed by the divisions and expulsions.

By 1950, in the aftermath of the feud with Mindō, Sanbetsu had around 290,000 members.Harari, Ehud. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2zAKqWiuciIC&pg=PA72 The Politics of Labor Legislation in Japan]. Berkeley [usw.]: University of California Press, 1973. p. 72 The All Japan Harbour Workers' Union left Sanbetsu in February 1950.Yamamoto, Mari. [https://books.google.com/books?id=iyZolPI3Ce4C&pg=PA115 Grassroots Pacifism in Post-War Japan: The Rebirth of a Nation]. London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2004. p. 115 By 1951, Sanbetsu membership stood at around 47,000.Harari, Ehud. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2zAKqWiuciIC&pg=PA73 The Politics of Labor Legislation in Japan]. Berkeley [usw.]: University of California Press, 1973. p. 73 In 1953 the combined membership of Sanbetsu unions was merely 13,000.Schonberger, Howard B. [https://books.google.com/books?id=0O7nID3qgaEC&pg=PA131 Aftermath of War: Americans and the Remaking of Japan, 1945-1952]. Kent, Ohio u.a: Kent State University Press, 1989. p. 131

Sanbetsu dissolved itself in 1958.Kume, Ikuno. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2UyxLDm75FoC&pg=PA57 Disparaged success: labor politics in postwar Japan]. 1998. p. 57Gordon, Andrew. [https://books.google.com/books?id=rvmpu_i8q6wC&pg=PA372 The Evolution of Labor Relations in Japan: Heavy Industry, 1853-1955]. Cambridge, Mass: Council on East Asian Studies, Harvard University, 1988. p. 372

The organization worked on the basis of the principle "one factory plant, one union", which was the line of the World Federation of Trade Unions.Kume, Ikuno. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2UyxLDm75FoC&pg=PA54 Disparaged success: labor politics in postwar Japan]. 1998. p. 57 Sanbetsu joined the WFTU in 1950.Herod, Andrew. [https://books.google.com/books?id=SqTlKCPvs5wC&pg=PA109 Organizing the Landscape: Geographical Perspectives on Labor Unionism]. Minneapolis [u.a.]: University of Minnesota Press, 1998. p. 109

Sanbetsu issued the publication Rengo Sensen.Yamamoto, Mari. [https://books.google.com/books?id=iyZolPI3Ce4C&pg=PA40 Grassroots Pacifism in Post-War Japan: The Rebirth of a Nation]. London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2004. p. 40

:1946: Katsumi Kikunami

:1947: Sugado

:1949: Sukeharu Yoshida

:1956: Fukuhei Ichikawa

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Category:National trade union centers of Japan

Category:Trade unions established in 1946

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Category:World Federation of Trade Unions

Category:1946 establishments in Japan

Category:1958 disestablishments in Japan