National Trade Union Council (Japan)

The National Trade Union Council (全国労働組合会議, Zenkoku Rōdō Kumiai Kaigi), often referred to as Zenrōkaigi, was a short-lived but significant national trade union center in Japan. It was formed in December 1946, emerging in the immediate postwar period amidst a surge in labor activity and democratization. Zenrōkaigi positioned itself as a more militant and politically active alternative to the more moderate Japanese Federation of Labour (Sōdōmei).

Zenrōkaigi was heavily influenced by the Japanese Communist Party (JCP). Its core constituents included unions in key industries such as transportation, communications, and government sectors. It advocated for workers' rights, improved wages, better working conditions, and broader political and social reforms.

The organization played a leading role in several major labor disputes, including the planned general strike of February 1, 1947, which was ultimately suppressed by the Allied Occupation authorities (GHQ). This event, along with internal divisions and external pressure from the Occupation forces, significantly weakened Zenrōkaigi.

Ultimately, Zenrōkaigi dissolved in 1949 amidst the "Red Purge" orchestrated by GHQ, which aimed to remove suspected communists and left-wing activists from positions of influence in Japanese society. Its demise marked a setback for the militant labor movement and contributed to the consolidation of a more moderate, enterprise-based unionism in Japan. Despite its short lifespan, Zenrōkaigi left a lasting impact on the development of the Japanese labor movement and the political landscape of postwar Japan.