Chunghwa protest

UNI Asia & Pacific, 2000 [August]

More than 13,000 union members and their families joined protests on August 16th in Taipei to protect jobs and conditions in the privatisation process of Chunghwa Telecom in Taiwan.

Members of UNI affiliate the CTWU and other unions (many with members in public enterprises) marched from the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall to the Legislature and Executive Yuan.

The first offering of shares in the telecoms company was judged a flop by the market with only 40% sold.

But the union demands remain—to protect members. The CTWU is, for example, seeking protection of salaries and the retirement age.

35,000 employees feel helpless because no one will detail what kind of benefits, working conditions and salary they can expect after privatisation, union president Chen Jun-chou told the media.