Demonstrations

Aug. 25, 1955 - H Ongkong Shanghai Strike: 200 Japanese employees of H ongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation branch offices in Japan, entered the 19th. day (Aug. 18) of their strike demanding a summer bonus equivalent to a month's salary each. The dispute already established a new record in the length of the time in the history of Japan's banking business in labour dispute while no amicable settlement was in sight. The dispute exploded from differences between British and Japaneses customs. In Japan, employes are usually given bonuses twice a year - in summer and year end. Japaneses government and public workers are provided with bonuses en counting to 1.75 monthly salary every year. While the employees in big business usually get bonuses amounting to two to four time the monthly salary. Japanese employees of the bank, therefore, demanded the summer bonus equivalent to two montsh salary. The bank management rejected the demand on the basis that it was not a Brisith custom to pay bouns. When he unionists decided to go on strike, the management offered a loan equavalent ot half the amount of the year-end bonus (on month salary) with an interest of five percent per month to each employee. The union rejected the offer. The management came back with a proposal to provide a summer bonus equaling 70 percent of one month salary on the condition that the union would not make any economic demand in the three years to come. This the union also turned down and went on strike on July 30. The unique status of these employees employed by foreign firm complicates matters for the Central Labour Commission of Japan, arbitrary organisation for labour disputes. With no backing from strike, appealing to the public for support

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

Amicable Amount Amounting Appealing Arbitrary Backing Banking Basis Bonus Bonuses Commission Counting Custom Decided Demand Demanded Demanding Differences Dispute Disputes Employed Employee Employees Employes Entered Equivalent Established Exploded Firm Japaneses Loan Management Monthly Offer Offered Percent Proposal Provide Provided Rejected Salary Shanghai Status Therefore Twice Unionists Usually

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