Joining a union isn’t only about what happens when you have a problem. It’s also about what happens when someone else does.

General Union brings together workers from many different workplaces, industries and backgrounds. Our members may work for different employers, but a lot of the problems they face are surprisingly familiar: unfair treatment, insecure employment, unpaid wages, sudden changes to working conditions, harassment, or simply feeling that nobody is listening.

That’s where solidarity comes in. Sometimes solidarity means signing a petition for workers fighting for better conditions. Sometimes it means joining an action or supporting members who have decided to strike.

At other times, though, it’s much simpler than that. It can mean listening to someone who’s having a terrible time at work. Sharing your own experience because you’ve been through something similar. Showing up at an event to support another branch. Or simply reminding another member that they don’t have to deal with a difficult workplace struggle alone.

Throughout the year, General Union creates opportunities for members to meet people from other branches, hear about what’s happening in their workplaces and support each other when they can.

That support becomes especially important when a company tries to interfere with union activity itself.

Japanese law protects legitimate union activity and prohibits certain forms of employer interference with unions. If an employer tries to undermine a branch, interfere with organizing, or disadvantage workers because of legitimate union activity, that’s not something those members should have to face by themselves either. The union can stand together to defend the branch and the members involved.

You may never have met the member you’re supporting. You might work in completely different industries and think their workplace problem has nothing to do with yours. But every time members show up for each other, we build stronger connections between our branches and a stronger union. And when workers stand together across workplaces, we help build a stronger labour movement in Japan too.

Want to get involved and support fellow union members? Check out our committees, including the Solidarity Committee

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