Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/07/31
By: Lee Hsin-Yin
Taipei, July 31 (CNA) The Pilots Union Taoyuan said Tuesday it has not ruled out the
possibility of a walkout during the Sept. 22-24 Mid Autumn Festival holiday if an ongoing vote over labor action grants its members the right to strike.
A majority of union members have already cast their ballots on whether to strike as part of a vote being held from July 16-Aug. 6, in the wake of unsuccessful negotiations on working conditions with the country’s two main airlines, China Airlines (CAL) and EVA Airways. About 70 percent of CAL pilots and 50 percent of Eva Air pilots belong to the union.
A vote in favor of action is considered highly likely and a pilot walkout could have a significant impact on the country’s aviation industry given that a one-day strike by CAL flight attendants two years ago cost the carrier NT$500 million (US$15.38 million) and affected 30,000 passengers. [FULL STORY]