Several civil activists yesterday criticized a proposal by the Cabinet that would allow teachers to organize labor unions but bar teachers at the same school from forming unions.
National Teachers Association (NTA) president Kevin Wu (吳忠泰) told a press conference that activists who had been pushing for reform of the Labor Union Act (工會法) were “very disappointed” at the proposal.
Describing the proposal as “discriminatory,” Wu said it was hostile toward labor unions.
If the bill were passed, teachers would be allowed to organize labor unions for the very first time since the Labor Union Act was enacted in 1929, Wu said.
However, the bill would also introduce an article banning teachers from forming labor unions with their colleagues at the same school, Wu said.
“Judging from the proposal, the government still believes that teachers will revolt against school authority and impede school management,” Wu said.
Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions secretary-general Hsieh Tsuan-chih (謝創智) said his organization was also opposed to the Cabinet’s proposal and another proposed amendment to the Settlement of Labor-Management Disputes Act (勞資爭議處理法) that would loosen restrictions against striking in most sectors, but would exclude teachers, civil servants and military personnel.
“The two proposed amendments should focus on how to establish a sound mechanism to mediate conflicts between employers and employees [instead of introducing restrictions on strikes],” Hsieh said.
National Federation of Bank Employees secretary-general Han Shih-shian (韓仕賢) called the proposed amendment a “setback.”
“The Settlement of Labor-Management Disputes Act did not impose any restrictions on workers’ right to go on strike when it was enacted in 1928. So why are we introducing the restrictions now?” Han asked.
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