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Japanese Labor Exchange: "Cultural Adventure" for Four CWAers
It’s hard to imagine the U.S. Department of Labor inviting another country’s union activists to come to the United States for an all-expense-paid learning exchange.
But that’s exactly what the Japan Institute of Labor did this summer, bringing four local CWA officers to Japan for two weeks of worksite tours and meetings with union leaders.
“It was the experience of a lifetime,” said Paula Terveer, executive vice president of CWA Local 2202. “We did a little bit of everything. I equated it to an accelerated, comprehensive, hands-on course.”
In addition to Terveer, Local 4008 President Steve Barteck, Local 1040 President Carolyn Wade and Local 9412 President Cookie Cameron made the trip in June. The institute had written to CWA earlier this year inviting four “young, prospective labor leaders,” to Japan.
The Japan Institute of Labor is an arm of the country’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. It collects labor data and studies labor issues in Japan and throughout the world, and strives to “promote mutual understanding in international situations about labor,” according to its website.
The CWA group spent most of its time in Tokyo, but took a train south to Kyoto for a weekend. There, they toured a telephone company business office and saw workers in jobs very much like those in the United States. “The people were in cubicles, just like in our business offices,” Barteck said. “There were lots of flyers on the walls about political campaigns going on and sales promotions. Other than the fact that I couldn’t read the writing, I felt like I was at home.”
In Tokyo, the CWA leaders met with numerous Japanese unions, from unions of telephone and electrical workers to a union of mostly female, part-time workers who provide care for the elderly at home. They also visited an “ability garden,” an educational program that helps displaced workers. “It was a beautiful facility,” Terveer said. “And they televise their classes all over Japan.”
Throughout their trip, Wade said she was impressed by the “respect for seniors and seniority in Japan, whether it’s the employer or the employee.” Terveer said she noticed that relations between companies and employees were less adversarial than in the United States. “Everything is more cooperative,” she said.
That may be, in part, because Japan has strong labor laws. For instance, if just two workers choose to establish a union, the company can’t interfere by law. Union offices are even in company buildings, something that surprised Barteck.” I found it very interesting, actually quite encouraging to see the relationships they had,” he said.
Notably, he said, Japanese companies appear to have far better rapport with their unions than American companies operating in Japan. Labor leaders he spoke with told him there is “immediate friction” when American businesses set up shop. “They told me it’s much harder to try to negotiate and work with them,” he said. “The companies immediately build a wall.”
The CWA leaders were asked to speak about a variety of topics, including public sector and health care issues, privatization, telecommunications and worker education and training. Wade said they were told 25 people would attend the lecture session, but 90 showed up, including high-level government staff, managers and top union officials.
The group had little time to be tourists, but still managed to see a number of temples, a cultural show and a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Various hosts and an interpreter accompanied them throughout their trip.
“The people of Japan were very gracious, very accommodating, very polite,” Terveer said. “Everywhere you went — hotels, department stores, restaurants, people would bow at you and smile. We all got used to bowing.”
In fact, she said with a laugh, she got so used to it that back home in Virginia she bowed to a man who opened a bookstore door for her.
Wade called the trip “a cultural adventure” with a “full, non-stop itinerary.” While recreation took a back seat to a lot of hard work, she said she wouldn’t have missed it.” It was one of the highlights of my career,” she said. “I got to see things that I’d only read about.”
But that’s exactly what the Japan Institute of Labor did this summer, bringing four local CWA officers to Japan for two weeks of worksite tours and meetings with union leaders.
“It was the experience of a lifetime,” said Paula Terveer, executive vice president of CWA Local 2202. “We did a little bit of everything. I equated it to an accelerated, comprehensive, hands-on course.”
In addition to Terveer, Local 4008 President Steve Barteck, Local 1040 President Carolyn Wade and Local 9412 President Cookie Cameron made the trip in June. The institute had written to CWA earlier this year inviting four “young, prospective labor leaders,” to Japan.
The Japan Institute of Labor is an arm of the country’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. It collects labor data and studies labor issues in Japan and throughout the world, and strives to “promote mutual understanding in international situations about labor,” according to its website.
The CWA group spent most of its time in Tokyo, but took a train south to Kyoto for a weekend. There, they toured a telephone company business office and saw workers in jobs very much like those in the United States. “The people were in cubicles, just like in our business offices,” Barteck said. “There were lots of flyers on the walls about political campaigns going on and sales promotions. Other than the fact that I couldn’t read the writing, I felt like I was at home.”
In Tokyo, the CWA leaders met with numerous Japanese unions, from unions of telephone and electrical workers to a union of mostly female, part-time workers who provide care for the elderly at home. They also visited an “ability garden,” an educational program that helps displaced workers. “It was a beautiful facility,” Terveer said. “And they televise their classes all over Japan.”
Throughout their trip, Wade said she was impressed by the “respect for seniors and seniority in Japan, whether it’s the employer or the employee.” Terveer said she noticed that relations between companies and employees were less adversarial than in the United States. “Everything is more cooperative,” she said.
That may be, in part, because Japan has strong labor laws. For instance, if just two workers choose to establish a union, the company can’t interfere by law. Union offices are even in company buildings, something that surprised Barteck.” I found it very interesting, actually quite encouraging to see the relationships they had,” he said.
Notably, he said, Japanese companies appear to have far better rapport with their unions than American companies operating in Japan. Labor leaders he spoke with told him there is “immediate friction” when American businesses set up shop. “They told me it’s much harder to try to negotiate and work with them,” he said. “The companies immediately build a wall.”
The CWA leaders were asked to speak about a variety of topics, including public sector and health care issues, privatization, telecommunications and worker education and training. Wade said they were told 25 people would attend the lecture session, but 90 showed up, including high-level government staff, managers and top union officials.
The group had little time to be tourists, but still managed to see a number of temples, a cultural show and a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Various hosts and an interpreter accompanied them throughout their trip.
“The people of Japan were very gracious, very accommodating, very polite,” Terveer said. “Everywhere you went — hotels, department stores, restaurants, people would bow at you and smile. We all got used to bowing.”
In fact, she said with a laugh, she got so used to it that back home in Virginia she bowed to a man who opened a bookstore door for her.
Wade called the trip “a cultural adventure” with a “full, non-stop itinerary.” While recreation took a back seat to a lot of hard work, she said she wouldn’t have missed it.” It was one of the highlights of my career,” she said. “I got to see things that I’d only read about.”