Economy can support higher wages: Rengo

Despite continued economic growth and record profits, a recent labor ministry report showing a drop in average real wages in 2006 underscores the reality that workers are not reaping any of the benefits.</PARAGRAPH> <PHOTO> <TABLE WIDTH='250' ALIGN='RIGHT' BORDER='0'> <TR> <TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='../images/photos2007/nn20070208f1a.jpg' WIDTH='250' HEIGHT='386'/></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>Tsuyoshi Takagi, president of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation –

, is interviewed in Rengo's head office in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. SATOKO KAWASAKI PHOTO

To get a bigger piece of the pie in this year's "shunto" (spring wage offensive), unions are gearing up to seek monthly raises higher than they won last year, said Tsuyoshi Takagi, president of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo), which represents about 6.5 million workers.