In 1987, when the National Railways had been privatized, 1047 Japanese National Railways Workers were fired. Since then, they have been struggling for withdrawal of their discharge.

The division and privatization of the National Railways was the most far-reaching union-busting and the largest mass firing after World War II. From 1981, when the privatization plan had been launched under the guise of "Administrative and Fiscal Reform," until the accomplishment of the privatization, 200,000 National Railways workers were forced to leave their jobs; union-busting became harsher and harsher in this period.

Later, the then Prime Minister Nakasone publicly boasted, "I clearly intended to destroy Kokuro (National Railway Workers¹ Union) in order to dismantle Sohyo (General Council of Trade Unions) and the Socialist Party." In fact, under ruthless attack, Kokuro¹s membership shrunk from 240,000 to 40,000. Doro (National Railways Motive Power Union) and Tetsuro (Railway Employees Union) became lackeys of enemies who promoted the privatization and mass firing. Doro-Chiba was the only union that struck and fought back against this attack and defended unity of the membership.

Two years after the privatization, as intended by Nakasone, Sohyo dissolved itself and soon thereafter the Socialist party. The division and privatization was the grave attack of historic turning point.

Also in the United State and the UK, Reagan and Thatcher respectively launched similar so called "neo-liberal" attacks on workers. Workers¹ actual status undeniably shows the devastating consequences of these attacks.

Furthermore, the division and privatization of the National Railways resulted in collapse of safety: last year, the derailment accident near Amagasaki Station claimed lives of 107 people and the Uetsu Line accident lives of five people. Moreover, more than 300 workers were killed in workplace accident, hit by trains or otherwise.

The privatization of Japanese National Railways is obviously in a shambles. There are 1047 workers, the dismissed members of Kokuro (National Railway Workers¹ Union), Zendoro (All National Railway Locomotive Engineers' Union), and Doro-Chiba (National Railway Motive Power Union of Chiba) who have been fighting for withdrawal of their dismissal. Doro-Chiba continues its safe driving struggle, fighting back unjust disciplinary measures. These struggles assume a critical role to defeat privatization and union-busting by capitalists.

The Japanese government is taking drastic measures to turn Japan into a military power.

Abe administration, which came to power in September, overwhelmingly comprised of far right nationalists, has set forth its purpose of "breakaway from post-war regime" and aims to revise Article 9 of the Constitution that stipulates "renunciation of war." This extraordinary session of the Diet (Japanese Parliament) is now discussing revision of the Fundamental Law on Education in order to stipulate patriotism in school education and to bust Nikkyoso (Japan Teachers Union), National Referendum Bill in order to revise the Constitution, introduction of the Crime of Conspiracy, the Bill for promotion of Defense Agency to Defense Ministry and other reactionary bills. The purpose of all these is to build a "country which is able to launch a war."

Japanese and US governments is drastically strengthening the Japan-US Security Alliance and transforming Japan into a strategic stronghold for war on every corner of the world. Exploiting the nuclear test by North Korea, both governments are manipulating public opinions for a new aggressive war.

"Deregulation and privatization", "union-busting", "collapse of safety" and "militarization and war" are now common agendas of world imperialism. Therefore, workers of the world, have to unite and fight together against overripe and corrupt imperialism.

Therefore, we, participants of the International Conference of Transport Workers on November 16, 2006, hereby adopt the resolution to struggle together for reinstatement of 1047 dismissed Japanese National Railway workers and against militarization of Japan.