Chapter 15 Chapter 14: First step: Coordinating labor and capital to enhance unity

About a year after the end of the First World War, after experiencing economic expansion and overheating, Japan's economy began to enter the post-war depression and recession period. The impact of the economic downturn on the society is very huge and profound. Prices have skyrocketed, workers generally feel that life is difficult, and large-scale labor movements have broken out across the country.Laborers who are under heavy pressure in life, influenced by Western industrial society, also want to protect their own rights and interests through the trade union movement. Now it seems that this is a matter of course, but many employers could not understand it at the time.In the early days of the Japanese trade union movement, conflicts and conflicts between labor and capital occurred frequently, and sometimes even turned into violence.

The economic crisis has little impact on Matsushita Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd., mainly because it is prone to labor disputes. After the war, all industries withered, but the electrical business directly related to Matsushita Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was thriving.The industrial power that emerged during the First World War was converted to electricity, and it continued to expand after the war, and all walks of life needed to install motors.In the words of ordinary people: "Having used electric lamps, it is impossible to go back to the era of using kerosene lamps!" At that time, the production scale of Matsushita Electric was expanding day by day. By the beginning of 1919, Matsushita Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was no longer what it used to be. scale company.Although there is no shortage of labor sources, Konosuke Matsushita still feels the need to treat labor issues carefully in the face of the somewhat unstable labor situation.

The employees of Matsushita Electric Works have been working since the establishment of the factory, but Konosuke Matsushita feels that the cohesion of his subordinates is still not strong enough. How can we make this group more united?He felt that a set of effective methods should be established to solve employee problems. Based on this consideration, Konosuke Matsushita established the internal labor organization "Buyihui", which is a new enterprise employment system.The purpose of establishing this organization is to unite all employees, make all employees united, friendly, and jointly promote the prosperity of the factory's production and sales, and improve the living standards of employees.The nature of this organization is similar to a trade union, but it is a group full of harmony and harmony.

Konosuke Matsushita came up with an idea similar to a labor union, but he never thought of the name of this organization, which made him very troubled.Konosuke Matsushita believes that Matsushita Electric is not only for making money, but also for Panasonic employees to earn more money, improve their living standards, and live a happy life.And Panasonic employees should regard this group as their own family, no matter what they do, they should be of one heart and one mind, be intimate, help each other, and cooperate with each other.Before this time, no labor organization had been founded on such an idea.Therefore, Konosuke Matsushita is determined to give it a unique name.However, he thought of many names, but he was not satisfied.I also asked the people around me for advice, and even asked every employee, but I was not satisfied.

Just when Konosuke Matsushita was troubled by the naming of this organization, Morita Yanjiro, who had worked hard together before, came to him to talk about the past.While chatting, Konosuke Matsushita talked about the current troubles.After hearing Matsushita Konosuke's thoughts on this organization, Morita Yanjiro said: "Matsushita-san, I thought of one, I wonder if you are satisfied?" When Matsushita Konosuke heard this, he hurriedly said, "Morita-kun, don't be tricky, just tell me." "Don't think about the difficulties! Doesn't your organization emphasize the unity of pace? That's called step by step. This name has two meanings: one is that all employees are in step with each other, sincerely united, united, and work together from top to bottom. To move forward to a bright future; another meaning is to move forward step by step, step by step, down-to-earth and steady. What do you think?" Morita Yanjiro said dancing, and Matsushita Kosuke felt enlightened after hearing it, and he immediately agreed A friend's suggestion.In this way, the simple, clear and meaningful "step for a while" became the name of this organization.

In March 1920, "Bu Yihui" of Matsushita Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was formally established.Since then, under the inspiration of "love, harmony, mutual aid", Konosuke Matsushita led the employees to unite and cooperate sincerely, which not only stabilized the internal of Panasonic Electric, but also greatly promoted the development of Panasonic's business. The establishment of "Step by Step" made the employees of Matsushita Electric Manufacturing Factory united unprecedentedly. When "Bu Yihui" was founded, there was no such thing as a charter. It was not until 1933 that Konosuke Matsushita formulated a clearer charter for "Bu Yihui" that the reform of this new enterprise employment system was completely completed. The main content as follows.

"Buyihui" was established in March 1920 by all employees of Matsushita Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.The purpose of the establishment of the association is to make members love each other, help each other, improve welfare, promote the development of the association itself, and promote the business development of Panasonic Electric Manufacturing Company.Therefore, there is no "Bu Yihui" after leaving Panasonic Corporation, and the prosperity of Panasonic also means that "Bu Yihui" has expanded; at the same time, the progress of "Bu Yihui" also marks the smoothness and prosperity of Panasonic.No matter "step by step" or the development of Panasonic Electric, it depends on the sincere efforts, unity and cooperation of all employees. This is the significance of the establishment of "Step by Step".Members are requested to respect and love themselves, work together to help each other, and pray for the achievement of our common goals with strong and sincere chests!

Speaking of the direct motivation of Konosuke Matsushita to establish "Buyihui", it is actually quite simple, it is to stabilize the workforce and enable everyone to cooperate sincerely and develop their careers.However, this concept has brought unexpected results for Panasonic.With his efforts, this passive defensive thing turned into a constructive project.Since then, the tradition of Panasonic's employees, bosses, and the company becoming one and the same has become Panasonic's unique management philosophy. We know that the antagonism between labor and capital that accompanies the emergence of capital has never disappeared.The entire capital world is like this, and Matsushita Electric Corporation is naturally not exempt.However, this confrontation will manifest itself in different intensities and in different ways due to differences in economic relations, and sometimes the two may even live in harmony for a short period of time.No matter where they are, entrepreneurs attach great importance to the proper handling of labor relations, which is very important for the sustainable and healthy development of enterprises.What makes Matsushita Konosuke outstanding is that he had a deep understanding of this at that time and took correct measures.In his eyes, labor and management are like two wheels of a car.In order for the enterprise car to drive fast and steadily, the size and speed of the two wheels must be the same, one big and one small, or one fast and one slow.Only when both parties are coordinated can the car run fast and well. "Step for a while" is the stabilizer for driving Panasonic's car. Konosuke Matsushita did the opposite when the labor movement agitated and took the initiative to set up "Step for a while". This is very rare.