The Chunghwa Telecom Workers’ Union yesterday said it has called off a strike planned for Saturday after Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) promised to raise wages next year.
Union members protested on Monday at the telecom’s headquarters in Taipei, demanding a comprehensive raise of NT$7,500 per person and changes to their pension fund system. They threatened to strike on election day.
Some workers set up tents inside the main office building at the headquarters, saying that they were prepared to fight until management agreed to their demands.
Photo: CNA
The ministry is the largest shareholder of the telecom, which was privatized in 1995.
“We were prepared to escalate the protest to a national strike, and were even ready for a long-term battle because the management kept ignoring our demands,” union chairman Hung Hsiu-lung (洪秀龍) said. “However, the transportation minister came in on Monday afternoon with Chunghwa Telecom chairman Sheih Chi-mau (謝繼茂) to negotiate with employees. The minister also thought the workers were not making unreasonable demands.”
While employees were promised a raise next year, management and the union still need to negotiate over the exact amount of the increase, Hung said.
“We will definitely give the management a chance if they are serious about keeping their promises. If not, we will have no trouble quickly mobilizing our members and resources for a strike,” he said.
The starting salary of a Chunghwa Telecom employee at nearly NT$40,000 per month is higher than those of workers at state-run corporations or agencies operated by the ministry, government data showed.
Employees at the Taiwan Railways Administration have the lowest starting salary of NT$30,040 per month following a raise in August, while entry-level employees at Chunghwa Post earn about NT$38,000 per month, which includes work-related allowances.
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