Ministry to punish over 1,200 officials for illegal union activities

Saturday 18th July, 06:13 AM JST

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7 Comments

as_the_crow_flies at 12:43 PM JST - 18th July

2.5 billion yen earned by union members while engaged in illicit activities

What's that supposed to mean? Fraud, theft, extortion rackets, drug running? Or do they just mean that the officials were doing union business in work time, which they weren't supposed to? If it was just doing union business, using the word illicit is inflammatory and suggests something much more sinister. Clearer translation please.
benhur at 12:47 PM JST - 18th July

i agree..

need to know what kind of "illicit activities" please JT.
stirfry at 03:31 PM JST - 18th July

1237 suspended sentences, here we come !
IamBiking at 07:42 PM JST - 18th July

Union activities in Japan? Shouldn't that be under Crime?
amerijap at 05:32 AM JST - 19th July

"Illicit activities?" Don't know what kind of activities the workers are involving in, and don't know why they are considered 'illegal' in the law of public service.
herefornow at 10:22 AM JST - 19th July

IamBiking -- agree. This was out and out fraud, as they had to stamp their time sheets indicating they had spent their time on ministry activities. They stole this money, plain and simple. And, as usual, the supposed punishment does not fit the crime. They did this basically full-time over a number of years, but are only going to lose a fraction of their salary for a few months. The corporate leaders, bureaucrats, and politicians have made a complete mockery of the concept of honor in this country. Discusting really. And Kyodo News and JT play along by only reporting about 1/10 of the facts.
WMD at 02:35 PM JST - 19th July

Gosh, I was under the impression that there were no unions in japan! How ineffective they are.