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.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost