The Independent Evening Post (
Though an agreement between the paper's employees and its management appears to have temporarily resolved the financial crisis, senior members of the Post are still worried the paper may be shut down.
PHOTO: CHUANG CHUNG-LUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Taipei City Councilor Wang Shih-chien (
Wang's move followed local media reports on Monday that the paper was facing a financial crisis, with staffers receiving only half a month's salary for their most recent paycheck and being warned of job cuts.
Following negotiations between the paper's labor union and Chen -- who is wife of the president of the pro-KMT Far East Machinery Company Ltd (遠東機械集團) -- the company's employees agreed to receive their February salary in two installments -- one will be paid today and one next Monday.
Chen also offered to discuss the labor union's demand for a plan to improve the paper's operations next Monday.
Union leader Wang Fang-lu (王芳女) told the Taipei Times that Chen had expressed willingness to negotiate with the union and find ways to keep the paper running.
"Neither side expects the worst to happen -- closing shop -- and feel Chen's intent to negotiate with us is sincere," Wang said.
Councilor Wang said that since he took over the paper about six months ago, the company has lost an average of NT$13 million per month. He calculated that he "has dumped more than NT$70 million into the paper" during the past half-year.
"What made me the most disappointed and frustrated about the crisis was that some of the paper's employees, as well as outsiders such as DPP lawmaker Shen Fu-hsiung (沈富雄), kicked the paper while it was down," Wang said.
A member of the union, who refused to be named, told the Taipei Times yesterday that when the board of directors decided to transfer operational authority from Wang to Chen, Wang appeared emotional and expressed his disaffection with the highly publicized move.
Sources said that one month after Wang took over the paper last October, he announced his intention to adjust employee salaries and streamline personnel -- causing great concern among workers.
Over the past three months of labor negotiations, Wang felt that even though he worked hard, he continued to suffer unfair criticism, sources from the union said.
The Independent Evening Post was the first evening paper in Taiwan to advocate "independence from political parties" and is famous for its independent reports and reviews. With a 53-year history, the paper has long supported dissidents and non-KMT politicians.
After a financial crisis in 1995, the paper was taken over by KMT Taipei City Councilor Chen Cheng-chung (
Since Wang took over the company, the paper turned pro-DPP.
Now, with the paper's top post going to Chen, it is once again poised to swing back to the pro-KMT camp.
Even though the change in leadership has temporarily allayed the paper's labor crisis, the possibility of closure is still high if Chen and her team do not locate outside funding.
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