Bil Peters

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be channelled even more through consultation and procedures.

After that, from 1955 to 1970, Japan achieved an incredibly high rate of economic growth, easily the highest the world. Wages of workers doubled, trebled and almost quadrupled in the ten years from 1960 to 1970 — although the rate of exploitation was turned into a vehicle very high and the standard of living still below Western Europe and North Hoped class collaboration.

Such conditions compounded the retreat of the leaders, worsened the conditions for the progressive unións, and gradually undermined the anti-war movement.

Some unions, however, were still militant and management set out to split them and create yellow unions in their place. Most unions split by the employ- "national interest" ers faded out. Some were intimidated into becoming right wing unions in order to survive.

Even the Spring offensive, the Shunto, although remaining the main expression of a class struggle line, was contained to a great extent.

Each year the directors from the ten biggest com- working.conditions. panies would get together to discuss what would be a "reasonable" offer and coordinate their response to the Shunto. The successes of the Shunto in that period were largely due to the economic growth itself.

Shunto The scope of the Shunto however developed considerably until it became the main vehicle for negotiating wages in Japan. Even Domei negotiated during the spring from 1960, although not strictly as part of the Shunto.

At the time Sohyo and the smaller independent red! ration churitsuroren - which stands politically midway between Sohyo and Domei - campaigned on the basis of "parity with Europe"

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Socialist Organiser no. 122 March 3 1983 Page