With a falling yen and rising inflation, ECC branch members demanded better than their standard raise of 1% or less this year. The ECC Branch, currently over 100 members strong, stepped up and put the heat on ECC to give a 5% raise.
In June, under threat of strike, ECC agreed to raise their offer for this year from 1% to around 1.5% for full time and part time (Jokin Koshi and Hijokin Koshi) employees. As well, they agreed to an unprecedented multi-year increase of a minimum 5% over the next 3 years, inclusive of 2024. While this amount does not begin to cover continually rising costs, it is still an improvement over ECC’s original offer, and proof that fighting can have an effect while the threat of strike looms large.
For the rest of 2024 and into next year, the branch is focusing on further improvements in working conditions for its members, such as multi-day sick leave without an official doctor’s note and improved bereavement and celebratory leave policies.