Strike

Strike by workers has been hardly seen for more than 4 decades in Japan. It shows vivid contrast against many European countries, and also USA, where strikes are still day-to-day event today, especially by workers of transportation facilities. I have numerous experiences of re-scheduling business trip by strike (which is normally announced around a week before).

Of course strikes happen at individual private company, During my 5-year stay in Europe as member management (c.a. 500 employee) I had encountered 3 times, but quite modestly organized and standstill takes place only for a single day when the production is not so busy. But when the union demanded for high wage increase, they resorted to blockage of entrance of the company that enabled even expats to enter the office.

Sometimes well-paid “workers” also go on strike, such as pilot of airline companies who earns more than Euro200 thousand/year!

The Japanese businessperson may well remind that strike is fundamental right of labors in democratic countries, and Japan is extremely exceptional country in this respect.

Basel station in Switzerland. When I was in Europe, strikes were relatively less frequent in Switzerland.