Japanese labor union threatens sit-in at Yokosuka (US Navy base)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=43341&archive=true

Japanese labor union threatens sit-in at Yokosuka


By Allison Batdorff and Hana Kusumoto, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Saturday, March 17, 2007

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — A Japanese labor union is threatening a sit-in if the U.S. Navy doesn’t take action on a Yokosuka worker’s asbestos-related medical leave claim.

Members of Zenchuro Yokosuka, the local branch of the Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union, handed out more than 2,000 fliers from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. to those coming through Yokosuka Naval Base gates Thursday.

The fliers call for a sit-in if progress isn’t made quickly in the medical-leave claim of a Naval Facilities Engineering Command Far East worker diagnosed in April with malignant pleural mesothelioma believed to be caused from asbestos exposure on the job, said the group’s secretary general, Hiroki Otogawa.

The worker was approved by the workers’ accident compensation insurance system in mid-August, but whether his medical leave will be counted as “on-duty” or “off-duty” is still under review by the Navy. On-duty medical leave gives workers full summer and year-end bonuses, 90 days of paid leave and up to three years of unpaid leave. Off-duty leave is restricted to one-fifth of bonuses, 90 days of paid leave and 180 days of unpaid leave.


FULL story at link.

[Kagemusha]

1. Sounds like a clear-cut case of on the job exposure.

Hope the guy gets treated well. At least he has a union backing him. Wounded troops at Walter Reed don't.