Toho Dispute

It generally refers to a strike against the mass dismissal of Communist Party members and others at Toho Co., Ltd. that broke out in 1948 (Showa 23). At the company, production control struggles had also been carried out at the studios and theaters from February to April 1946, and the union succeeded in concluding a democratic collective agreement. In April, it played a central role in the formation of the Japan Motion Picture and Theatrical Workers' Union (Nichieien), which participated in the Preparatory Committee for the All-Japan Industrial Trade Union Congress (Sangyo Kaigi), and organized the Nichieien Toho branch. The branch fought production control for over 50 days from September to October of the same year, demanding better working conditions, but the union split up and a second and third union were formed. In 1948, the company revamped its management team and, claiming to banish the "two reds" of red ink and red flags, fired 914 people, including 270 at Kinuta Studio, on April 16, terminated the contracts of 84 people, and closed the studio on June 1. The strikers, supported by public opinion and friendly groups, occupied the studio, but were forced to leave on August 19 when 1,800 armed police officers and occupying soldiers with tanks were deployed. The prolonged dispute left both sides exhausted, and on October 19 the union leaders voluntarily submitted their resignation, while the company agreed to rehire about two-thirds of the workers who had been fired, bringing the 195-day dispute to a close.

[Hiroshi Matsuo]

"Miyamori Shigeru, 'On the Toho Dispute' (included in 'Labor Disputes Under Occupation' edited by the Labor Movement History Research Group, 1972, Labor Junposha)" ▽ "Ito Masakazu, 'Fog and Fortress - Records of the Great Toho Dispute' (1965, Rengo Tsushinsha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

一般に1948年（昭和23）に発生した東宝株式会社の共産党員など大量解雇反対争議をいう。同社では1946年2～4月にも撮影所、劇場で生産管理闘争が決行され、組合は民主的な団体協約の締結に成功、4月には全日本産業別労働組合会議（産別会議）準備会参加の日本映画演劇労働組合（日映演）の結成の中心になり、日映演東宝支部を組織した。同支部は同年9～10月に待遇改善の要求で50日余の生産管理闘争を行ったが、組合が分裂、第2、第3組合が結成された。48年、会社は経営陣を刷新し、赤字と赤旗の「二つの赤」を追放すると称し、4月16日砧(きぬた)撮影所の270人をはじめ914人を解雇、契約者84人を解除し、6月1日同撮影所を閉鎖した。争議団は世論の支持と友誼(ゆうぎ)団体の応援を得て撮影所を占拠したが、8月19日武装警官1800人、戦車を動員した占領軍兵士の出動で退去を余儀なくされた。争議の長期化で双方疲労し、10月19日組合幹部は自発的に辞表を提出する一方、会社は解雇者の約3分の2を再雇用する条件を出し、195日間に及ぶ争議は解決をみた。

［松尾　洋］

『宮森繁著『東宝争議について』（労働運動史研究会編『占領下の労働争議』所収・1972・労働旬報社）』▽『伊藤雅一著『霧と砦――東宝大争議の記録』（1965・連合通信社）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例