Stage set for Chunghwa labor action

The Chunghwa Telecom Workers' Union said yesterday over 1,000 supporters representing over 80 labor unions would surround the Legislative Yuan tomorrow as Premier Yu Shyi-kun delivers a national policy report.

Union chairman Chang Hsu-chung (張緒中) denied reports that the labor groups intend to deter the premier from entering the legislature, where Yu is slated to deliver a speech to lawmakers.

"Our purpose is to petition legislators to address our grievances with regard to the privatization of state-run Chunghwa Telecom," Chang said.

Chunghwa Telecom chairman Hochen Tan (賀陳旦) and Chang sat down yesterday to discuss the controversies surrounding the privatization.

Chang said Chunghwa Telecom's selling of shares to large financial syndicates such as Fubon Financial Holding Co and Cathay Life Insurance Co was inappropriate, allowing big business and politics to form an alliance that neglects workers' rights and needs. He requested that Hochen make clear exactly how Chunghwa plans to complete the privatization process.

Hochen said that while he respected the requests of workers, privatization was geared toward economic vitality and increasing the company's efficiency. He said the privatization process is more than just selling stocks to big business.

The two parties are also at odds over Chunghwa's plans to borrow NT$50 billion to buy back shares currently held by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and plans to break Chunghwa's monopoly on last-mile access, the final portion of a telephone line which enables users to connect to the network. The two also failed to agree on post-privatization salary and employment guarantees.

At a separate press conference, Chunghwa Telecom chief executive officer Lu Shyue-ching (呂學錦) said service was a top priority and would not be affected by the union's activities.

Lu reported yesterday morning that about 1,200 employees have been granted a leave of absence tomorrow. He said that Chunghwa has already allowed two to three times the usual number of employees to take leave from work.

Huang Cheng-pou (黃政波), head of Chunghwa's human resources division, confirmed that few employees would be denied a personal leave of absence.

When asked what circumstances warranted the denial of a personal leave of absence, Huang explained that he did not know and needed to check the company's regulations.

Union members at the press conference accused management of violating workers' rights. They requested that Lu promise that all employees be granted a leave of absence.

Lu said, "The telecommunications industry is very competitive. While I respect the union's activities, I also have to strike a balance between the needs of workers and customers."

Chunghwa senior vice president Chang Feng-hsiung (張豐雄) said, "According to company regulations, no more than 10 percent of employees can take a leave of absence at the same time. The main point is that service cannot be affected."