Shunto negotiations at most workplaces this year were tough- ECC was no exception. The uncertainity created by the global financial crisis was given for rejecting union demands that would put pressure on company finances.
However, we did see a major change in ECC’s attitude toward performance based salary increases. The union made it very clear that we would not accept the record low increases of the 2009 academic year. ECC approached the union with a proposal that the average increase would be increased to 30 yen per hour ( 3,700 yen monthly) and the maximum rank would be set at 60 yen per month (7,400 yen monthly).