Japanese union wants military bases to stay

[unhappycamper]

Japanese union wants military bases to stay
By Chiyomi Sumida, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Saturday, November 29, 2008

GINOWAN, Okinawa — Zenchuro, the largest labor union for Japanese employees on U.S. military bases on Okinawa, has sent out a clear message — it wants military bases to stay.

The labor union earlier this month decided to part from the Okinawa Peace Activity Center, an umbrella organization of anti-base groups and unions demanding the closure of all military bases on the island.

As a result, Zenchuro members will no longer be among protesters chanting anti-military slogans in front of base gates.

The more military-friendly shift reflects an attitude change in the 6,500-member union and its growing number of younger members, who see the bases as stable workplaces.

"We have come a long way," said Hiroshi Zamami, 52, general secretary of Zenchuro’s Okinawa chapter. Nowadays, military bases are places that provide good jobs, he said.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59110