"Too often, company managers and politicians are making decisions without asking workers," he said.

Then in February, he asked workers for $1.8 billion in labor cuts.

In addition, the railway has asked retired workers to report for duty to take the place of those on strike.

In the strike, the union asked workers at 97 buildings to walk out.

We stood outside the factory and asked workers entering to sign a petition demanding a union.

Do you ask workers who work near vehicles or plant for their views on how to reduce the risk of injury?

At the same time, the company asked workers to pay for part of their health insurance - $33 a month for a family.

It is asking workers to take a one-year pay cut of 5 percent and to pick up some medical insurance costs.

So great was the urgency that the management had even asked foreign workers to volunteer as emergency drivers.

Mitsubishi Electric has asked workers to accept cuts of 2.9 percent.