I don't think Sega was going after the union reps at all; rather, they were performing an end-run around the union itself, which is why the transfer. Legally they couldn't fire these workers because the union guaranteed their positions, but they could move them around physically and appoint others to the same responsibilities, in effect replacing them. In this way, Sega managed to breach their union contract in substance without breaching it in form. All in all it reflects some really devilish thinking, on par with the bank collapse of 2008. Really reprehensible and devious.
http://www.japan-press.co.jp/2001/2234/sega.html Checked the link. Here's what was going on: Unions in Japan are very strong. In anime sometimes you'll hear exhortations to go out and protest in the opening theme music (I'm thinking of NGE and Slayers, particularly). Osamu Tezuka himself worked to make progressives very strong in the country, was his motive for founding Mushi Pro.
The balance to this influence is the Yakuza. Companies attack progressive leaders ("change agents") personally and directly through the Yakuza. The article/book excerpt details just such an attack, and the clever response.
According to the filing, the quarantine method was employed to counteract union strength. Sega was working to eliminate its hardware division in spite of their contract with the union. The isolated workers had ties to the unions (possibly even representatives) and refused to cooperate, and so they were isolated from the rank-and-file via legal loopholes. With the union heads out of the picture, Sega forced the workers, so disorganized and uncoordinated, out and closed their hardware division.
Well we know the company was near an airport... that shouldn't be too hard to research. What I'm wondering is that if they would stoop to kidnapping and nausea-inducing tactics, what else would they be capable of? What do we NOT know about? I think Nintendo and Namco were ruled out because of the reputation of their staff. Miyamoto in particular would never put up with this kind of thing. But Sega... yeah definitely not improbable. I remember Gizmodo's backers were all a bunch of criminals.
Comments 7
Re: Rumour: Leading Japanese Game Company Kidnapped Dev's Sister To Stop Them From Working With Nintendo
@Vetus
It'll come out after this. Only a matter of time.
Re: Rumour: Leading Japanese Game Company Kidnapped Dev's Sister To Stop Them From Working With Nintendo
@GreatPlayer They didn't need coercion. Install base was enough. But this was the 5th gen, not the 3rd.
Re: Rumour: Leading Japanese Game Company Kidnapped Dev's Sister To Stop Them From Working With Nintendo
@GreatPlayer They didn't need coercion. Install base was enough. But this was the 5th gen, not the 3rd.
Re: Rumour: Leading Japanese Game Company Kidnapped Dev's Sister To Stop Them From Working With Nintendo
I don't think Sega was going after the union reps at all; rather, they were performing an end-run around the union itself, which is why the transfer. Legally they couldn't fire these workers because the union guaranteed their positions, but they could move them around physically and appoint others to the same responsibilities, in effect replacing them. In this way, Sega managed to breach their union contract in substance without breaching it in form. All in all it reflects some really devilish thinking, on par with the bank collapse of 2008. Really reprehensible and devious.
Re: Rumour: Leading Japanese Game Company Kidnapped Dev's Sister To Stop Them From Working With Nintendo
http://www.japan-press.co.jp/2001/2234/sega.html
Checked the link. Here's what was going on:
Unions in Japan are very strong. In anime sometimes you'll hear exhortations to go out and protest in the opening theme music (I'm thinking of NGE and Slayers, particularly). Osamu Tezuka himself worked to make progressives very strong in the country, was his motive for founding Mushi Pro.
The balance to this influence is the Yakuza. Companies attack progressive leaders ("change agents") personally and directly through the Yakuza. The article/book excerpt details just such an attack, and the clever response.
According to the filing, the quarantine method was employed to counteract union strength. Sega was working to eliminate its hardware division in spite of their contract with the union. The isolated workers had ties to the unions (possibly even representatives) and refused to cooperate, and so they were isolated from the rank-and-file via legal loopholes. With the union heads out of the picture, Sega forced the workers, so disorganized and uncoordinated, out and closed their hardware division.
Re: Rumour: Leading Japanese Game Company Kidnapped Dev's Sister To Stop Them From Working With Nintendo
*Gizmondo, not Gizmodo.
Re: Rumour: Leading Japanese Game Company Kidnapped Dev's Sister To Stop Them From Working With Nintendo
Well we know the company was near an airport... that shouldn't be too hard to research. What I'm wondering is that if they would stoop to kidnapping and nausea-inducing tactics, what else would they be capable of? What do we NOT know about? I think Nintendo and Namco were ruled out because of the reputation of their staff. Miyamoto in particular would never put up with this kind of thing. But Sega... yeah definitely not improbable. I remember Gizmodo's backers were all a bunch of criminals.