General Council of Trade Unions of Akashi

The General Council of Trade Unions of Akashi (Miranian: 明石労働組合総評議会 Akashi Rōdōkumiai Sōhyōgikai; Gothic: 𐌰ᚴ𐌰𐍊𐌴 𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌳𐍉 𐌲𐌰𐍆𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌳𐍃 𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐍃𐍄𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽𐍃ᚴ𐌰𐍆𐍄𐍃 Akaśe Alaþiudō Gafaurds Waurstwjanskafts), commonly known as the Sōhyō (総評) or Algawau (𐌰𐌻𐌲𐌰𐍅𐌰𐌿), is Akashi's national trade union centre. Its members are all Akashian trade unions, making it an influential organisation in the Akashian economy.

History

The General Council of Trade Unions of Akashi was founded during the Summer of Freedom. It replaced the former Zenrōkyō, destroyed by a rank-and-file revolt against its deferential leadership and association with economic conservatism.

From the beginning, it established a reputation for left-wing radicalism and aggressiveness. It encouraged wildcat and sympathy strikes, and contributed to the industrial unrest of the "siege economy". At the same time, it also established a sometimes difficult cooperation with the SP-led governments of the period, whose reforms greatly strengthened organised labour.

During the 1980s, it worked with the Ran Tsukuda government to introduce national retraining programs and maintain full employment. Ran's friendly relations with the Sōhyō were crucial to the success of her economic agenda, and bolstered her reputation as a consensual, progressive conservative.

It organised a general strike in 1990 against the neoliberal conspiracy, the largest strike since 1968. The Shinobu Furukawa government's revision of labour law to universalise workers' self-management greatly benefited the Sōhyō, strengthening its One Big Union character.

Since the 2000s, a dominant theme of its work has been just transition towards environmental sustainability.

Organisation

It is a federation of trade unions. Each member union elects delegates to its national council, and in turn the national councils elect delegates to the Sōhyō congress, which appoints the executive board. All delegates are subject to instant recall and imperative mandates.

The regular annual conference is held yearly.

It takes part in tripartite negotiations with the Keidanren and government. Notably, it has good relations with the Kyōkuren.

Politics

It is generally aligned with leftist parties, particularly the Socialist Party, Communist Party, and Green Party.

There is a notable undercurrent of anarcho-syndicalism within the Sōhyō, dating back to its roots in the Summer of Freedom.