This is due not only to the company’s policies but also to the labor union’s traditional ideology (livelihood security benefits). This is the result of negotiations that argued: “The company should guarantee living expenses according to age and life stage.” Ironically, because of this system, tensions often arise between union members at manufacturers—between those in the “frontline” (factories), who are mostly high school graduates, and those in the “research institutes,” who are mostly graduate degree holders. In foreign companies, it’s quite common that once hired, salaries are the same regardless of educational background.