Workers at a major Tokyo department store went on strike on Thursday after talks with management over the planned sale of their company broke down, marking the first major walk-out the country has seen in decades.

Workers at a major Tokyo department store went on strike on Thursday after talks with management over the planned sale of their company broke down, marking the first major walk-out the country has seen in decades.

Some 900 workers at the flagship Seibu store in the bustling district of Ikebukuro are protesting the sale of Sogo & Seibu, a unit of Japanese retail giant Seven & i (3382.T), to U.S. fund Fortress Investment Group.

They are seeking job and business continuity guarantees, unhappy with reported plans for discount electronics retailer Yodobashi Holdings to take over roughly half of the store.

  • Firipu@startrek.websiteEnglish
    43·
    10 months ago

    Awesome! More people in Japan should do that! Show some spine! Don’t just constantly accept the status quo that is so pervasive in Japan.

  • marrenia@astraea.pinkEnglish
    17·
    10 months ago

    I wonder what the common business leader in Japan is thinking right now with these workers actually standing up for their rights - personally I’m picturing blubbering rage lol

    • Rentlar@lemmy.caEnglish
      5·
      10 months ago

      I’m not sure, I think more Japanese businessmen and C-suites are worried about takeovers from US, Europe and China-based multinational companies. They only care a little bit about workers advocating for their rights.