Nissan Motor Co. announced Wednesday it will pay its union members a bonus this year equal to 5.2 months in salary, meeting the demands of the automaker's labor union.
It is rare for management to announce its decision before the deadline of the annual spring wage negotiations, which this year falls Wednesday. Nissan's decision concerns bonus payments only, and does not cover monthly salaries.
The company's move is expected to influence negotiations among other automakers as well as other industrial sectors.
In general, labor unions within the same industry cooperate to pressure management by setting similar negotiation periods.
Unions request that their respective management teams provide answers regarding their demands on wage and bonus increases, setting a common deadline for this procedure.
In most cases, the management teams announce their responses on the same date, which usually corresponds with the deadline.
Nissan President Carlos Ghosn issued the firm's announcement as a mark of appreciation for the union members' efforts regarding the Nissan Revival Plan, according to Masahiko Aoki, senior vice president of Nissan.
Aoki was in charge of the spring wage negotiations.
"He wanted to let them know as soon as possible," Aoki said.
The firm does not expect its announcement will have a negative effect on the positions of other labor unions, as the firm has decided to meet the union's bonus demands in full, he said.
Nissan's management will meet union representatives next week to reveal the firm's decision on wage increase demands made by the union, he added.