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17 January, 2000Tomoyuki Fukuma, a well-known former trade unionist and member of Parliament in Japan, was highly respected by the international trade union movement.
JAPAN: The IMF was greatly saddened to learn the news that Tomoyuki Fukuma, a former president of the Japan Council of Metalworkers' Unions -- IMF-JC and member of the IMF Executive Committee from 1964-1973, passed away on January 7, 2000. He was 72 years old.
Brother Fukuma began his professional career as an electrical worker. He became a full-time trade union official with the Matsushita Electric Industry Workers' Union in 1948 and served as president of the union from 1957 to 1962. He moved up, as a trade unionist, to Denki Roren --now Denki Rengo -- the Japanese federation of electrical and electronics workers' unions, serving as vice-president from 1962 to 1973. In 1964, when the Japan Council of Metalworkers' Unions -- IMF-JC was formed, he was elected as its first president, a post he held until 1973, when he resigned from this position and from Denki Roren to run for the Upper House in Parliament. He was elected to the Upper House in 1974 and served three six-year terms.
Tomoyuki Fukuma is survived by his wife, Yoshiko, two children and grandchildren. A memorial service is being held in Osaka at the Matsushita union's building on January 29.
Brother Fukuma began his professional career as an electrical worker. He became a full-time trade union official with the Matsushita Electric Industry Workers' Union in 1948 and served as president of the union from 1957 to 1962. He moved up, as a trade unionist, to Denki Roren --now Denki Rengo -- the Japanese federation of electrical and electronics workers' unions, serving as vice-president from 1962 to 1973. In 1964, when the Japan Council of Metalworkers' Unions -- IMF-JC was formed, he was elected as its first president, a post he held until 1973, when he resigned from this position and from Denki Roren to run for the Upper House in Parliament. He was elected to the Upper House in 1974 and served three six-year terms.
Tomoyuki Fukuma is survived by his wife, Yoshiko, two children and grandchildren. A memorial service is being held in Osaka at the Matsushita union's building on January 29.