U.S., Japanese Transit Workers Exchange Views

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

American and Japanese transit workers learned about each other’s labor movements during a recent visit.  Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 hosted a delegation of Japanese transit union leaders on May 31 at Local 689’s union hall in Forestville, MD. Local 689 Recording Secretary Anthony Garland reports that the Japanese delegation showed a lot of interest in U.S. grievance policies and how they work. Another topic of interest was the U.S. healthcare system. Garland says the main highlight of the meeting – the first such meeting with union reps from another country -- was the chance to learn about another labor movement and how it works. The delegation included Kimura Kazuo from the Federation of Private Railroads in Tokyo and Takahashi Hiroyuki, the Chief Secretary of Tokyo’s Metro Union; local attendees -- in addition to Garland – included Teamster 922’s Ferline Buie, and they were joined by other guests from local transit unions and the Japanese delegation. Click here for a selection of photos on Local 689's website. - Matthew Fournier; photo courtesy ATU 689