Latest News - 高雄市獨立總工會

2025-07-21

[Taiwan Labor Action Coalition in Response to Tariff Impact] Press Interview Notice

100 Days of Waiting, Workers Ignored while Tariff Crisis Worsens Mobilize Nationwide Unions Mobilize, Urging Executive Yuan Premier to Address Labor Concerns Since U.S. President Donald Trump announced global tariffs in early April, nearly half a million domestic jobs have been affected—yet the government hasn’t offered a meaningful response. Concerned about workers’ rights being overlooked in trade talks, labor advocates formed the Taiwan Labor Action Coalition on Tariff Impact (the Alliance) in June. The group has repeatedly asked to meet with government officials, but so far, the administration has remained silent. With trade negotiations showing little promise for Taiwan, workers from the nation's most vulnerable industries—machine tools, automotive parts and assembly, and precision engineering—plan to stage a large-scale protest on Tuesday, July 22. Surrounding the Executive Yuan and holding rice bowls as a symbol of job security, they will call on the Premier to confront labor concerns directly. The Alliance has also invited legislators from major political parties to join the protest and publicly clarify their positions ahead of the upcoming recall vote and potential by-election. Key speakers at the protest include representatives from the machinery and automotive sectors, voicing concerns about threats to their industries and urging the government to stop ignoring workers’ demands. Meanwhile, a youth group will stage a symbolic performance outside the Executive Yuan to spotlight how workers’ rights are being treated as bargaining chips. The Alliance demands a senior representative from the Executive Yuan—at minimum the Secretary-General—should engage in direct dialogue with workers on site, and a firm commitment that labor rights will not be compromised in any trade agreement. Otherwise, the Alliance pledges to lead workers from across Taiwan into the Executive Yuan to directly seek answers from Premier Cho. Time: July 22, 10:00 a.m Location:. Main Gate, Executive Yuan Press Contacts: Chen Po-Chien — Researcher, The Alliance Wu Hui-Ling — Secretary-General, Taiwan Professional Machinery Labor Union Liu Sheng-Ming — Deputy Chair, Taoyuan Federation of Labor

2025-07-16

[Clinic Accused of Labor Violations—Unions Call for Legal Action and Compensation for Nurses]

The Kaohsiung Independent Federation of Unions joined hands with allied unions today to defend the dignity and rights of Taiwan’s nurses. Together with the Taiwan Nurses Unions, the Taiwan Federation of Medical Unions, and other labor allies, we gathered outside AiBi GaoRong YuRen Clinic to stand in solidarity with nurses who’ve faced exploitation and retaliation. The clinic has long engaged in unlawful practices, including using a pooled working hours system to offset overtime and avoid paying overtime wages, enforcing excessive shift schedules, underreporting salaries for labor insurance, and imposing inflated penalties or withholding pay upon contract termination. At today’s press conference, unions exposed over a dozen labor law violations and detailed the unpaid overtime amounts. Former nurses courageously shared their personal experiences, drawing public attention to the mistreatment and injustices faced by healthcare workers. To highlight the damage caused by these exploitative timekeeping systems, union members staged a street performance calling on the clinic’s leadership to: Immediately withdraw the unjust lawsuits against its nurses Repay all outstanding wages and overtime Review and reform its employment practices Restore a respectful, secure workplace for all nursing staff The Kaohsiung Independent Federation of Unions firmly believes that only through unity and action can workers’ rights be protected. We’re grateful for the support of fellow unions today. On the road to justice, we are never alone.

2025-07-03

[Taiwan Labor Action Coalition in Response to Tariff Impact]

Tariff Negotiation Period Nears End; Labor Alliance Demands Transparency Taiwan Workers Demand Jobs, Reject Symbolic Compensation Union Warns of Action if Labor Rights Undermined With the US tariff deadline fast approaching, Taiwan government continues to project “constructive progress” while avoid addressing potential impact to domestic labor. Workers remain excluded from negotiations, even as independent analyses warn that final U.S. tariff rates could reach 15–20%, threatening thousands of jobs. The Taiwan Labor Action Coalition in Response to Tariff Impact, formed June 17 and backed by over 100 unions, is calling out the government’s secrecy and inaction. The group warns that unless job security is clearly safeguarded, workers will mobilize nationwide and surround the Executive Yuan, demanding direct dialogue with the Premier. Small and medium enterprises have also voiced frustration, revealing they too are kept in the dark. This widespread information gap, the alliance argues, highlights the government’s troubling stand on closed-door negotiations. “Workers want jobs—not post-layoff subsidies,” the alliance declared. “Vocational training and re-employment schemes miss the point. What we need is a government commitment to protect employment in current industries, not vague promises of career transitions.” The Alliance issues three demands: 1. No deals without direct consultation with labor representatives. 2. Full rejection of any compensation schemes based on job losses. 3. Concrete guarantees that workers can stay in their existing industries. Time is running out. Taiwan’s workers will not be treated as expendable.

2025-06-17

[Taiwan Labor Action Coalition in Response to Tariff Impact] Press Conference

This morning, the Taiwan Labor Action Coalition in Response to Tariff Impact held a press conference, urging the government to hold open negotiations and protect workers' rights. "Reject backroom deals—unions must be involved!" they declared. If the government fails to respond, workers will take to the streets to fight for their livelihoods and job security. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=750266250755358&rdid=mmupmazPKUIPTvGz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hflqCpX63XU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9b-kAfaDNs https://www.chinatimes.com/....../20250617002065...... https://www.taisounds.com/news/content/76/196407 https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/06/18/2003838820

2025-06-16

Tariff Shock Threatens 500,000 Workers—Cross-Industry Unions Unite to Demand Transparency and Representation

In response to U.S. President Trump’s global tariff plan announced in early April—which includes a proposed 32% tariff on Taiwanese goods—Taiwan’s major unions warn that the impact could jeopardize over 500,000 workers’ rights and livelihoods across key industries in Taiwan. While other governments engage unions in policy discussions, Taiwan's labor groups have been excluded from ongoing negotiations with the U.S., raising fears that workers may be sacrificed as bargaining chips. The Ministry of Labor’s recent outreach has focused only on job training and post-crisis resettlement—offering no concrete measures for protection, only what unions call “planning for the funeral before the fall.” In response, five national union coalitions—representing over 50 grassroots unions—have formed the Taiwan Labor Action Coalition in Response to Tariff Impact and officially launched on June 17 at Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan. Their message to the government: “No more backroom deals. Include labor in the talks.” If the government fails to respond, the coalition will mobilize affected workers and their families to the streets. Press Conference Details: June 17, 2025, 9:00 AM – Legislative Yuan, Red Building Room 301 Speakers: - Duan Weizhong, President, Taiwan Machinery Industry Labor Union - Chen Ruolan, Chair, Taoyuan City General Union - Wang Qinghong, Chair, Kaohsiung Independent Federation of Union - Ruan Youting, Chair, National Federation of Independent Trade Unions - Dai Guorong, Chair, Taiwan Confederation of Trade Union - Cai Shengmu, Chair, Vehicle Committee, Intl. Metalworkers’ Federation of Taiwan

2025-05-05

Taiwan Network Union: Honghua Co. Posts NT$18.5 Billion in Revenue, Yet Grants a Meager NT$600 Pay Raise!

The Union Urges Honghua to Do Right by Its Employees—Fair Pay Is the Way Forward! Chunghwa Telecom subsidiary Honghua International Co., Ltd. promotes itself as a "happy enterprise", boasting seven consecutive awards, including the 2024 CSEA Excellence in Customer Service Award. At its year-end party, the company proudly announced an impressive NT$18.5 billion revenue, celebrating employees' dedication and hard work. Expecting a salary increase comparable to Chunghwa Telecom’s parent company—NT$4,000 raise and a NT$20,000 bonus—employees were stunned to learn their 2025 salary adjustment amounted to just NT$600. Despite the company’s push for performance-driven cooperation, this meager increase undermines employee contributions, damages morale, and leaves workers feeling betrayed. Hsu Fu-Li, Chairman of the Taiwan Network Union, stated: "Honghua International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chunghwa Telecom with NT$180 million in capital, serves as the company’s frontline for customer service—including retail, maintenance, and call centers. Honghua operates under increasingly demanding performance targets, with KPI requirements doubling annually. Despite these challenges, Honghua’s employees continue to excel, driving exceptional results. Their contributions have significantly reduced Chunghwa Telecom’s labor costs while making a substantial, undeniable impact on its earnings per share (EPS). Union Vice Chairman Chiu Hsiao-Tung stated that at Honghua’s 2024 year-end party, the company proudly announced a NT$18.5 billion revenue—100 times its capital—with growth across all performance indicators. Not only did it meet targets, but 70% of its revenue was recognized by parent company Chunghwa Telecom, contributing to its NT$4.8 EPS in 2024. Yet, despite employees’ dedication in achieving these results, Honghua’s reluctance to fairly compensate them is deeply disappointing. Union Secretary-General Qiu Wen-Hsia revealed that since January 2025, Chunghwa Telecom employees have received a NT$4,000 monthly pay raise and a NT$20,000 bonus. Meanwhile, Honghua employees—who handle customer service, retail, and repair work—were given a mere NT$600 increase. As living costs soar, many employees face financial strain. Despite Chunghwa Telecom’s emphasis on ESG and CSR, it has failed to uphold its corporate responsibility to support young workers, instead exploiting its subsidiary’s employees. To deflect scrutiny, Chunghwa Telecom claims financial independence from Honghua. Yet, the chairman is appointed by Chunghwa, and KPI targets are dictated by the parent company, suggesting complete subordination to Chunghwa’s directives. Despite this, Honghua employees continue to receive lower salaries, weaker bonuses, and poorer working conditions compared to their counterparts at Chunghwa Telecom. The union chairman emphasized that as a US-listed company through ADRs, Chunghwa Telecom must uphold ESG principles. Its annual shareholder reports repeatedly affirm its commitment to labor rights, stakeholder interests, and corporate social responsibility. We urge Chunghwa Telecom to acknowledge Honghua International as its subsidiary and reconsider its salary increase policy amid inflation and the 4% raise standard for government entities. The union recommends that, effective retroactively from January 2025, Honghua employees receive a NT$3,000 salary increase and a one-time NT$15,000 bonus—a necessary step to fairly reward employees, retain talent, and foster long-term success for shareholders, workers, and customers alike. Press Contact: Taiwan Network Union Chairman Hsu Fu-Li 0937332666 Secretary-General Qiu Wen-Hsia 0937332882 E-mail: tnu0501@gmail.com Website: http://tnu.org.tw

2025-05-03

Joint Press Release [Fighting an Unethical Employer]

Kaohsiung Sheng-Li Elementary School Principal Li Jin-Shi Faces Fines, Lawsuits Amid Power Abuse and Union Suppression Allegations Sheng-Li Elementary School Principal Li Jin-Shi is accused of power abuse, staff retaliation, union suppression, and illegal parking. He's lost multiple lawsuits, prompting the Kaohsiung Education Union and others to demand accountability for his unethical conduct and disregard for public order: Retaliation Against Whistleblowers Principal Li reportedly retaliated against those who exposed his actions. A cashier who testified in court before the Ministry of Labor was immediately hit with a poor performance review and falsely accused of absenteeism. Similarly, after filing a lawsuit against National Federation of Education Unions Secretary-General Liu Ya-Ping, Principal Li targeted the local union chair for testifying, penalizing them with an unjust assessment. Union Suppression and Fine Evasion Principal Li actively obstructed union operations, refusing to deduct union dues from salaries and violating labor laws. This led the Ministry of Labor to rule that he had committed two unfair labor practices, levying fines totaling NT$200,000. Despite the clear ruling, he attempted to evade payment through administrative litigation. His appeal was rejected, his request for suspension of the penalty denied, and his final appeal ultimately dismissed. Six Lawsuits Lost Against Teachers and Parents Principal Li's legal troubles also involved teachers and parents. He allegedly interfered in the school's parent association election, and when parents reported his behavior, he retaliated by suing them for defamation. He lost that case, and his request for reconsideration was dismissed. Additionally, his defamation lawsuits against labor leaders Liu Ya-Ping and He Geng-Xu were all rejected, with his subsequent appeals dismissed by the High Prosecutors’ Office. National Scandal Over Misused Disabled Parking Principal Li directly violated disability rights laws by illegally taking over parking spaces designated for disabled individuals. He went so far as to remove the markings from a reserved spot just to park there himself. This blatant disrespect for public order has been widely reported by media, making it a significant national scandal. Issued By / Media Contact: Kaohsiung Education Union: Chairperson Li Hsien-Neng Jointly Issued By: National Federation of Education Unions: Chairperson Lin Shuo-Chieh Kaohsiung Confederation of Trade Unions: Chairperson Lin Shun-Chi Kaohsiung Independent Federation of Union: Chairperson Wang Ching-Hung https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19EkbRL7MN/  

2025-05-01

May Day Labor Rally on Ketagalan Boulevard "Anti Bullying, Demand Protection"

At the 2025 May Day Labor Rally, the Kaohsiung Independent Federation of Union joined forces with the Taiwan Medical Workers' Union to champion critical issues facing healthcare workers nationwide. Their advocacy focused on addressing low wages, severe staff shortages, high nurse-to-patient ratios, and the push to convert fixed-term employment contracts to indefinite terms. The unions urged Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-Yuan and President Lai Ching-Te to honor their pre-election commitments, calling for an end to broken promises and voter deception. They also demanded that the Ministry of Transportation address employment contract issues for seafarers in China Steel Express and across Taiwan, pushing for a transition from fixed-term contracts to indefinite employment to safeguard workers from exploitative shipping companies. Our Key Demands: No More Bullying! Protect Our Rights! Less Work, More Life! Restore Our Holidays! End Elder Poverty! Secure Our Retirement! Fight Inflation! Raise Our Wages! Stop Discrimination! Strengthen Labor Power! Staff Up Healthcare & Education! Protect Professionals! Fair Transitions Now! Labor Has a Voice! #Kaohsiung Independent Federation of Union #Taiwan Federation of Medical Unions #China Steel Express Union #Kaohsiung Medical University Labor Union #Zuoying Armed Forces General Hospital Union https://news.tvbs.com.tw/life/2856999 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ2s26QeIHQ https://search.app/SUAAJksCtYqsASHJ8 https://youtu.be/IQCa5eeDtu4?si=nYOYn3jbZE1ig2_L

2025-04-27

Repost: China Steel Express Union Alleges Misconduct in Chinese Seamen's Union Elections

The China Steel Express Union has received complaints from members of the Chinese Seamen’s Union regarding irregularities in the recent union representative election, held from April 15 to April 29. Members reported that company representatives closely monitored the voting process, with supervisors overseeing polling stations and pressuring crew members to vote for company-backed candidates. Many seafarers expressed frustration, stating that such interference violated the fundamental principle of secret ballots, which is essential for fair elections. Further concerns have arisen regarding the election's integrity. Reports indicate that after ballots were cast, election officials allegedly hired temporary staff and IT personnel to collect voters' personal data. Daily records, including members' ID numbers, names, and union credentials, were reportedly uploaded to a Google Drive cloud file without consent, making them accessible to election personnel. This unauthorized practice deviates from announced election procedures, raising serious privacy and election integrity concerns. Given the sensitive nature of voter information, the election registry should have been sealed post-election. The collection and storage of voter data without authorization may violate the Personal Data Protection Act and cast doubt on the fairness of the election. The act of uploading union members' private information to Google Drive without explicit consent contradicts contractual agreements and governance regulations, potentially violating Article 20 of the Personal Data Protection Act. As violations of this law are subject to public prosecution, the China Steel Express Union has taken formal action by sending a legal notice as evidence. We urge relevant authorities to intervene and rectify the situation, ensuring a fair and lawful election process for the Chinese Seamen’s Union. Moreover, we call on specific shipping companies to relinquish control over union affairs and allow seafarers to regain their rightful representation, reaffirming the union’s original mission of safeguarding and advocating for Taiwan’s maritime workforce.

2024-11-26

[China Steel Express Union] Hundreds of Crews and Families Rally Around CSC Building with Vehicles

[China Steel Express Union Interview Notice 11-27-2024] No Progress on Employment Rights Protection and Reinstatement of Labor and Health Insurance! Calling for Hundreds of Seafarers and Families with Vehicles to Surround CSC Building Since July this year, China Steel Express (CSE), a 100% subsidiary of state-owned China Steel Corporation (CSC), has abruptly cut off labor and health insurance for hundreds of Taiwanese seafarers waiting for reassignments onshore. Additionally, the company delays the reassignment of Taiwanese seafarers while prioritizing Chinese seafarers. These actions jeopardize the work rights and livelihoods of Taiwanese seafarers and their families. To defend these rights, the union has obtained the first legal strike right for seafarers in Taiwan’s maritime history and mobilized hundreds of seafarers and their families to protest at the Ministry of Labor in October, demanding the then-Minister Ho Peishan resolve these issues. The union has vowed to continue its protests if no action is taken. Despite a recent labor-management negotiation facilitated by the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the Kaohsiung Bureau, only limited consensus was reached, and no substantial progress on key issues such as employment rights protection and the reinstatement of labor and health insurance. To demonstrate our determination, the union has decided to mobilize hundreds of seafarers and their families with vehicles on November 27. We will gather in front of the CSC Building to “surround” the building and demand a prompt response from CSC and CSE. The union also addresses the new Minister of Labor, Hung Shenhan that former Minister Ho’s resignation was due to her failure to support oppressed workers when needed. Minister Hung, should understand the labor issues better from his tenure as a legislator, whether it was attending the union’s press conference last December exposing CSE under contribution of employee pensions, or recently questioning CSE’s hiring Chinese crew to replace Taiwanese seafarers, which poses a threat to Taiwan’s national security. We believe that Minister Huang understands CSE’s violation of labor laws and Taiwanese seafarers’ deprivation of employment rights. The union calls on Minister Hung to continue his concern for Taiwanese seafarers’ rights and use administrative power to ensure protection of their employment and labor rights. The union’s demands for November 27 “Surround and Bypass” action are as follows: 1.     Confirm the employment relationship between CSE and its seafarers as an indefinite contract to protect their employment rights. 2.     CSE must reinstate labor and health insurance for Taiwanese seafarers waiting for reassignment onshore. 3.     Gradually reduce the hiring of Chinese seafarers, prioritizing the assignment of Taiwanese seafarers. Time: 14:30, November 27, 2024 Location: In front of CSC Building (No.88, Chenggong 2nd Road, Kaohsiung) Press Contact: CSE Union President Wang Qinghong (0966-557-709)