University of Tokyo

Abstract
Survey Number 0130
Survey Title Survey on Union Leaders in Japan, 1990
Depositor Ohara Institute of Social Research, Hosei University
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Educational Purpose Only available for research.
Period of Data Use Permission One year
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Summary This survey represents a historical record of labor movement leaders who played a crucial role in establishing a private "Rengo" (Japanese Trade Union Confederation). They were the ones who led the Japanese labor movement at the very moment when it was beginning its new era. The objective of the present survey is to draw a rough picture of some of the Rengo leaders by clarifying their personal attributes, union and movement experiences, corporate careers, evaluation of the Japanese labor movement and broader society, and, finally, political consciousness. Although the survey is limited to the Rengo-affiliated private unions, we are scheduled to cover in the future the public labor unions which eventually joined the new Rengo, Zenroren (National Confederation Trade Unions), Zenrokyo (National Trade Union Council), as well as neutral unions which do not belong to any of these.
Data Type quantitative research
quantitative research: micro data
Universe Officials of Rengo-affiliated private labor unions.
Unit of Observation Individual
Sample Size A sample of 2,657, of whom 1,114 (41.9%) responded.
Date of Collection 1990-03-01 ~ 1990-03-01
March, 1990
Time Period 1990 ~ 1990
Spatial Unit
Sampling Procedure Respondents are the three top officials and executive committee members at each industrial union, the three top officials (or chairperson) and the director of each local organization, and the three top officials at the headquarters of each independent union as well as the directors of its local chapters. All respondents were drawn from the first edition of Rodo-kai Jinji-roku (The Personnel Record of the Labor World) which was published in September 1988 by Nenkan-bu, Rodo-mondai Kenkyu Kaigi.
Mode of Data Collection Self-administered questionnaires by mail.
Investigator Yunion Rida Kenkyu-kai (Union Leaders Study Group) (Jin Igarashi et al.) at OISR.
DOI 10.34500/SSJDA.0130
Sponsors (Funds)
Related Publications (by the Investigator) Yunion Rida Kenkyu-kai (September, 1990) Yunion rida chosa ni tsuite no chukan hokoku (An Interim Report of Survey of Union Leaders), Ohara shakai mondai kenkyujo zasshi (Monthly Journal of Ohara Institute for Social Research) No.382.
Related Publications (based on Secondary Analysis) List of related publications (based on Secondary Analysis)
Documentation [Chosa-hyo][Abstract][Search]
Major Survey Items Demographic items:
Sex; age; dwelling place and place of origin; education; current or original industrial union affiliation; level of organization Respondent mainly works at; departmental/divisional affiliation; current office held; level of organization R works at simultaneously; size of company where R works; annual income (for 1989).

Questionnaire items:
R's history as full-time union officer; R's history as full-time secretariat; firm's industry; level of organization where R assumed first union office; union departments where R held office in the past; experience with labor disputes; experience as labor committee member; experience as labor-management council member at industrial level; experience as member of government council and other advisory organs; non-union office held at economic or social organizations; overseas trips made; office held at international labor unions and international exchanges joined; Trade Union Program and other overseas union/university programs attended; length of corporate employment; experience with current firm (seniority, division first assigned to, division where R assumed first managerial position; division where R assumed highest managerial position); ever fired; representatives of the contemporary Japanese union movement; evaluation of union influence; opinion of Japanese economic growth; evaluation of Japanese society; areas where future movement should seek ties; party R supports; view of relations between the new Rengo and parties.
Date of Release 2004/02/02
Topics in CESSDA Click here for details

Labour relations/conflict
Political behaviour and attitudes
Elites and leadership
Topics in SSJDA Employment/Labor
Version 1 : 2004-02-02
Notes for Users Data Sets are written in Japanese.