An oppressive air enveloped the meeting hall as the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. group union accepted a streamlining proposal to trim the company's workforce by half.
The union accepted the plan in late August by a vote of 225 to 13, even though it meant 110,000 of its 210,000 members would be affected.
A number of union members at the regular convention, held in Takamatsu, stood up to voice concerns, such as, "Are we going to be able to work in peace in the future? The outlook is unclear," and "Substantial pay cuts have reached the limits of allowable levels."
Union leaders tried desperately to win support, telling members that pain would accompany the rationalization plan and that the union wouldn't be able to ensure employment unless they change their concept of work.