EVA Air pilots gain right to strike over Spring Festival

EVA Air pilots gain right to strike over Spring Festival

2024-01-22

Pilots at EVA Air have obtained the right to strike during the Lunar New Year holiday. They were granted the legal right by the Taoyuan Union of Pilots, which voted 99% in their favor. The pilots are seeking a 20% raise and an increase to the travel allowance for international flights, from US$3.30 to US$6 per hour. They say they’re being forced to take action after months of failed negotiations.

Lee Hsin-yen
Taoyuan Union of Pilots president
From the very start, we didn’t see any move toward reciprocity from EVA Air. There was no substantive counterproposal to ours. It was all very disheartening. As for our plan and the methods of the strike, we will discuss such specifics on Jan. 25, during our board meeting. Seventy-five percent of our union members are pilots who fly Boeing 777 or 787. These two models are assigned to key cities in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

EVA Air management says it had already responded to the demands with small adjustments to wages and travel allowances. But it says it’s still open to negotiating with the pilots, and has formed a task force for that purpose. If the strike goes ahead, it will be the fourth in Taiwan’s aviation history. The impact would be greatest on flights to the Americas and Europe. Several insurance firms have announced that travel insurance purchased after today, Jan. 22, will not cover claims associated with the strike.

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長榮機師春節期間恐罷工歐美加航線首當其衝

2024-01-22

機師工會投票結果出爐，以99%的超高同意率，獲得合法罷工權，長榮分會不排除春節期間發動罷工，一旦確定，將會是我國航空史上，第四起罷工行動。長榮分會大多是長途航線飛行員，也就是說，往返歐美的旅客，首當其衝。

[[桃園市機師職業工會理事長李信燕]]
“我們始終看不到長榮航空實質的，提出一個對等的一個協商的態度，還有相對的一個實質對案，我們感到非常的心寒。罷工的實質作為跟方式，我們會在1月25號的理事會當中，再去做詳細的規劃。(75%會員是執飛)我們所謂的777跟787的機隊，這兩個機型所飛航的機隊，包括了美國、加拿大，還有歐洲各個重要的城市。”

華航企業工會聲援長榮罷工，並宣布堅決反對在罷工期間，支援長榮資方。長榮航空表示遺憾，並澄清，機師工會訴求的薪資與津貼，都已經進行微調，外籍機師任用標準與本國機師一致。已經成立緊急應變小組，不放棄跟工會協商的任何機會。多家產險業者，已經宣布，旅遊不便險，取得罷工權後才買，不會賠。

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Shortly after his Jan. 13 victory, DPP President-elect Lai Ching-te met a senior U.S. delegation. Now more U.S. officials are expected to visit.

According to Nikkei Asia, the top Democrat in the House Indo-Pacific subcommittee Ami Bera will lead a delegation to Taiwan. He will be joined by lawmakers including Congressional Taiwan Caucus Co-Chair Andy Barr and Representative Mario Diaz-Balart. The delegation will arrive in Taiwan on Jan. 24, and meet President Tsai Ing-wen and President-elect Lai on Jan. 25.

A lawmaker set to visit separately is Mike Gallagher, who chairs the House Select Committee on the CCP. Gallagher is known for his tough stance on China.

Ho Chih-wei
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Over the past four years, Taiwan has received more than 3,000 foreign guests. Lai Ching-te’s election shows that we are choosing peace in the Taiwan Strait. I think that the discussions will center on maintaining the status quo and peace in the Taiwan Strait. What’s important is that we have bipartisan support from the U.S. They support Taiwan, and they support our democracy.

Speaking to the Nikkei Asia, Bera said the delegation planned to meet with senior members of the KMT and the TPP, citing the need to “have meetings with all parties.” The report also quotes Bonnie Glaser from the U.S. German Marshall Fund, who said it was extremely important for members of Congress to engage with Taiwan’s opposition. She said support from both of them was essential for continued increases in defense spending, passing special budges for purchasing weapons and other matters related to security.

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The U.S. knows very clearly that it has to have more communication and build understanding with the KMT and the TPP, to prevent China from winning over and using the two parties. If China is successful, stagnation could occur in Taiwan-U.S. relations, particularly as bills are hindered in the Legislative Yuan.

Ahead of the U.S. delegation, lawmakers from Lithuania flew in last Sunday. Led by MP Matas Maldeikis, the 11-member group is in Taiwan to show support for the country.

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KMT to invite newly elected president to report to legislature: report

A new legislative session is set to start on Feb. 1. The KMT reportedly plans to invite Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s newly elected president, to the Legislative Yuan. Opposition lawmakers want to request a “state of the nation” report from Lai. They also want a chance to ask him questions, to subject Lai to public scrutiny. During his presidential campaign, Lai had promised to report to the legislature if invited.

In the Jan. 13 election, the DPP won the presidency but lost its majority in the Legislative Yuan. Reports say the KMT caucus has decided to ask the new president to give a “state of the nation” address before lawmakers.

Lai Ching-te (Nov. 15)
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If the Legislative Yuan asks me to go, I will go.

Before the election, Lai Ching-te had said he’d be willing to give a “state of the nation” address. But the KMT also proposes that Lai take questions on the spot, to face a public examination. Since Taiwan’s first direct presidential election in 1996, no president has delivered a “state of the nation” address at the legislature. Should Lai give a report, he’d be the first president to do so in Taiwan’s constitutional history.

Hsieh Yi-fong
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Before the election, all three candidates agreed to report to the Legislative Yuan. So far, there have been no caucus discussions on the format of such a report.

You Si-kun
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During his time in office, Chen Shui-bian was willing to report to the legislature, but it never happened. If the president were to come, what kind of protocol should be followed? After all, the president represents the country, so any uncivil behavior would make international news.

The DPP and KMT have yet to agree on the details of the presidential summons. The Constitution states that parliament may hear a report on the state of the nation by the president. But it does not explicitly require a president to deliver such a report. It also does not stipulate a question-and-answer session like that for other officials. Given the gray area, much negotiation remains ahead.

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TSMC rumored to pick Chiayi for 1 nm hub

TSMC may have found a new home for its 1 nanometer chips. According to a Chinese-language media outlet, it plans to build on a new science park in Chiayi County. The rumored project was welcomed by Chiayi’s commissioner, who said he would personally ensure that TSMC has full support. Last October, the chipmaker ditched its original plan to build in Taoyuan due to opposition from residents.

TSMC plans to build its 1 nanometer plant in Taibao City, Chiayi, according to the Economic Daily News. The report said TSMC applied for 100 hectares of science park land, 40 of which would be used for advanced packaging and testing. The remaining 60 hectares would be for the 1 nanometer facility. TSMC’s total investment amount will reportedly exceed NT$1 trillion.

Weng Chang-liang
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We would wholeheartedly welcome it. If TSMC does in fact choose Chiayi, I will personally serve as the lead coordinator, organizing a dedicated service unit within the Chiayi County government to provide full support.

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Chiayi has many favorable qualities. You won’t encounter land requisition issues, because all of that land belongs to Taisugar. Tsengwen Reservoir, Taiwan’s largest dam, is located right in Chiayi’s Dapu Township. And Commissioner Weng Chang-liang has announced plans to build a desalination plant off the Chiayi coast.

TSMC’s rumored project was warmly received by the Chiayi County government.

TSMC houses its 7 nanometer technology in Taichung, while Tainan hosts its 5 and 3 nanometer processes. In Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, it plans to roll out 2 nanometer chips as early as 2025. In Chiayi County, its potential 1 nanometer fab would meet demand from AI servers, accelerators, smartphones, and PCs.

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With the U.S.-China tech war ongoing, TSMC is facing strong geopolitical pressures, but remains committed to keeping its advanced processes in Taiwan.

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Originally from Vietnam, Tran Hong Mai has created her very own herb garden with the help of her community and the Hsinchu County New Immigrant Service Center. There you can find all kinds of herbs common in Southeast Asian cooking, but rare in Taiwan. The garden not only sates a longing for home, but also serves as a gathering place for the community, Taiwanese and immigrant alike.

A garden stretches as far as the eye can see, packed with over 40 kinds of Southeast Asian herbs. Every stalk was planted with care by immigrant women. Tran Hong Mai runs this garden, putting her all into its maintenance.

Tran Hong Mai
Vietnamese immigrant
When those of us from Vietnam and elsewhere in Southeast Asia get together, we want to cook food from home for everyone to enjoy. But it’s sometimes hard to find the ingredients. So I said, don’t worry, I’ll help you find some land to grow herbs from home.

With help from the Neili community in Hsinchu’s Xinpu Township, they got a plot of land to use free of charge.

In addition to running the garden, Tran plays another important role in this community of immigrants.

She also prepares Southeast Asian food to share with her elderly neighbors. Meticulously selected pork is seasoned simply with black pepper, garlic and salt, then mixed with shredded lolot to enhance the flavor before wrapping in a freshly picked lolot leaf.

Tran Hong Mai
Vietnamese immigrant
My biggest takeaway is, no matter whether Southeast Asian, Taiwanese or Hakka, we all come together as one family. I’m happiest every time I come here.

Lin Feng-yen
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The first time I saw something so novel, wrapped up in natural leaves like this, I was blown away by the flavor!

Feng Yun-yen
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This is just the best, everyone coming together as a family.

Apart from lolot-wrapped pork dipped in a homemade sauce, Tran also makes the vegetable and egg dishes and soup she ate often in Vietnam. When the community eats together, the table is crowded with Hakka, Taiwanese and Vietnamese dishes. Through food, the distance between them vanishes as they become one family.

This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund

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Master shoemaker and repairer Hsieh Hsin-hsien fixes shoes for 40 years

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Trim away the extra leather, paste superglue between lining and zipper, and place to one side to dry. Then on to the other side. When both sides are stuck fast, the shoes are closed up with a sewing machine and the work is done.

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Shoe repair expert Hsieh Hsin-hsien came to Taipei to learn the art of shoemaking at the age of 15. That was more than 40 years ago. He focuses on getting the details right, and that’s earned him the custom of many famous shoe brands, who hire him as their post-sales repair partner. He repairs 500 pairs of shoes a month, on average.

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Lots of people will moan about every job they get, but I’ve always been quite interested in shoemaking. I never wanted to give up. I told my wife, “Maybe I’ll keep going to 70 before I retire…”

Shoes from department stores like Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Nanxi, all the way to Sogo Fuxing and Uni-president, all end up getting repaired here at the workshop in Pingzhen Township, Taoyuan. Hsieh and his wife are proud that their sturdy work creates a solid footing for customers in all walks of life.

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