The "shunto" spring wage talks got under way Wednesday with several major automotive unions submitting demands related to job security and wages.
The unions constitute the core of the influential Japan Council of Metalworkers' Unions (IMF-JC), the umbrella body that sets wage negotiation policy for unions representing workers at automakers, electronics firms and other key industries.
This year's talks are focusing on whether unions and management can bridge differences over company proposals to limit or scrap the current wage-hike system and hold down increases in overall salary levels.