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Taiwan braces for Typhoon Kong-rey with 100% strike risk
Typhoon Kong-rey threatens Taiwan with a 100% storm strike probability in 13 regions, including Taichung and Tainan. The CWA warns of potential disruptions.
2024/10/30 09:38
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Transport minister backs holiday bonuses for railway staff
Explore the latest on Taiwan’s railway labor dispute: Minister Chen Shih-kai backs holiday bonuses, addresses potential strike, and inspects traffic management ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
2024/09/13 15:14
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Taiwan Railway to negotiate with union over holiday bonuses
Discover the latest on Taiwan Railway Corporation’s response to a potential strike over Mid-Autumn Festival bonus changes, as they consider relaxing voucher policies and continue negotiations.
2024/09/13 11:45
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EVA Air stocks soar after strike-averting pilot agreement
EVA Air’s shares rose over 5% in early trading after reaching an agreement with the Taoyuan Union of Pilots (TUP), ensuring no strikes during Lunar New Year. Lion Travel, Phoenix Tours, Richmond Tours, Life Tour, and China Airlines also saw a 2% increase in share prices. The labor agreement includes a monthly salary increase of NT$13,500, increased allowances, no direct hiring of foreign pilots, and no disputes on these points until May 31, 2026. The agreement is seen as a compromise to protect passenger rights. EVA Air did not comment on the impact on future profitability.
2024/01/29 15:58
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EVA Air pilot strike could affect 105K passengers
The Minister of Transportation and Communications stated that a potential strike by EVA Air pilots during the Lunar New Year holiday could affect at least 15,000 people per day, with an estimated impact of at least 105,000 people over the seven-day holiday. Negotiations between the airline and its pilots are ongoing, but significant gaps remain, particularly regarding salary. Achieving consensus has proven difficult, as both sides have resolute attitudes. The Minister hopes for continued communication between workers and management to bridge the gap. During the Lunar New Year holiday, approximately 151,000 people are expected to enter and exit the country daily, with around 38,000 per day traveling on EVA Air. It is estimated that around 40% of EVA Air pilots have voted in favor of a strike. The pilot’s union has announced a possible strike warning zone from Feb. 7 to 18 and March 30 to April 7, with plans to initiate the strike if negotiations fail.
2024/01/26 17:26
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Taoyuan Pilots Union announces potential strike dates
The Taoyuan Union of Pilots (TUP) has announced plans for two strikes, scheduled from February 7 to February 18 and March 30 to April 7. These strikes will affect travel during the Lunar New Year holidays and Tomb-Sweeping Day. The TUP has authorized pilots at EVA Air to strike due to unresolved disputes with the company. The strikes will proceed unless a negotiation agreement is reached. The union has emphasized its commitment to negotiations and is seeking a resolution. TUP will notify members 24 hours in advance of a strike through their official website. The union also plans to conduct strike drills to ensure a quick response from EVA Air division members. A negotiation meeting was initially planned for January 31, but the union will only attend if EVA Air provides clear counterproposals by January 30.
2024/01/25 16:17
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Excessive screen time contributes to Myopia surge in Taiwan
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental effect on Taiwanese students’ eyesight, with 81.61% of high-school students, 73.16% of junior high school students, and 45.23% of elementary students experiencing poor eyesight in the 2022-2023 academic year. Excessive use of electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, is a major contributing factor to the prevalence of myopia, the most common eye condition among children. A survey conducted by the Child Welfare League Foundation in 2019 found that the average age at which children own their first phone is ten. Ophthalmologists warn that individuals with myopia over 500 degrees are three times more likely to develop glaucoma and 5.5 times more likely to develop cataracts compared to their peers. The risks escalate for those with myopia over 700 degrees, as they are 44 times more likely to experience retinal detachment and 127 times more likely to suffer macular degeneration. Even successful myopia laser correction does not eliminate the potential risks of ocular diseases, as thinning of eye tissues and elongation of the eye axis persist. The golden period for myopia control is considered to be between 3 to 18 years of age, and various strategies such as increased outdoor activities, the use of mydriatic agents, Orthokeratology, daily disposable contact lenses designed for myopia control, and the latest children’s vision management lenses can be employed. These alarming rates highlight the urgent need to strike a balance between technology use and effective prevention strategies and early treatment for Taiwanese children.
2024/01/03 20:06
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Chunghwa Express to discuss bonuses amid labor disputes
Chunghwa Express Co. is set to discuss performance bonuses and collective agreements at an upcoming board meeting in an effort to resolve ongoing labor disputes and prevent potential strikes. The company’s union has warned of continued protests and strikes if a collective agreement is not signed, following a dispute over low wages and performance bonuses. Union members recently staged a sit-in protest at the campaign headquarters of a presidential candidate, leading to their forcible removal by riot police. The union hopes that a collective agreement can be reached promptly to protect employee rights, but has declared that it will not accept the board’s consideration of annual performance bonuses alone. If no resolution is reached, strike actions could disrupt check and document distribution at 1,400 local bank branches ahead of the Lunar New Year.
2023/12/28 09:06
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EVA Air announces record 6-month year-end bonus
EVA Air, a Taiwanese airline, has announced a record six-month year-end bonus, the highest since its establishment. The bonus will also be distributed to its subsidiaries, including airport services, sky kitchens, and aviation technologies. In addition, EVA Air plans to adjust salaries for employees in 2024, with ground and cabin crew members seeing an average adjustment of NT$5,000 and pilots receiving adjustments ranging from NT$11,000 to NT$20,000 based on their position. However, this announcement comes amidst potential strike action by EVA Air pilots, leading to concerns that the wage increase announcements are an attempt to pacify them. The Taoyuan Flight Attendants’ Union has emphasized the importance of fair distribution of year-end bonuses and salary increases regardless of the proposed pilot action. Rival airlines Starlux and China Airlines have also announced their year-end bonuses, with Starlux providing a one-month bonus and an approved salary increase of NT$2,000, and China Airlines reportedly planning to distribute a three-month bonus (although the union is demanding five months’ worth). In the marine transportation industry, YangMing Marine Transport Corporation has scaled down its year-end bonus from 13 months last year to two months this year due to a downturn in the shipping industry. The shipping corporations’ lower year-end bonuses are attributed to the "revenge-travel boom" post-pandemic. Other industries with high year-end bonuses include finance, semiconductor, and construction, with 1.83, 1.38, and 1.23 months respectively.
2023/12/26 10:09
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EVA profits soar as pilot wages lag, union plans strike
The Taoyuan Union of Pilots (TUP) has revealed that EVA Airways pilots have experienced a more than 10% decrease in real wages since 2011, resulting in a nearly 10% loss of the national pilot workforce. TUP accuses EVA of collaborating with illegal brokers to recruit foreign pilots, potentially jeopardizing flight safety. EVA pilots have unanimously passed a resolution to proceed with a strike vote, with details to be announced soon. Despite EVA’s record-high pre-tax profit, pilot wages have been frozen since 2011. Last year, pilot salaries were marginally adjusted, failing to keep up with the rising Consumer Price Index, resulting in a real wage decrease of 10% to 12%. The per diem for pilots, unchanged for 30 years, saw a minimal increase last year. Over a hundred national pilots, mostly experienced, have left EVA in the past year. The union criticizes EVA for cost-cutting measures that have led to staff resignations and safety incidents. They are urging the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to intervene and are planning a potential legal strike.
2023/12/12 13:36