TAIPEI (TVBS News) — If the pilots of EVA Air strike during the Lunar New Year holiday, it is estimated to affect at least 15,000 people per day, and the seven-day holiday could affect at least 105,000 people, said the Minister of Transportation and Communications on Friday (Jan. 26).
Wang Kwo-tsai revealed the potential strike's impact and said that negotiations between the airline and its pilots were ongoing, but considerable gaps remain, particularly regarding salary.
As of Thursday evening, achieving consensus seemed difficult; he stated, "The attitudes on both sides are very resolute."
He voiced hopes for continued communication between workers and management, hoping that the conditions from both sides can come closer together.
Wang revealed that during the Lunar New Year holiday, approximately 151,000 people are expected to enter and exit the country daily, of which about 38,000 per day will be traveling on EVA Air.
"Around 40% of EVA Air pilots have voted in favor of a strike," he estimated.
A day earlier, the pilot's union announced a possible strike warning zone for the time slots between Feb. 7 to 18 and March 30 to April 7. They said if negotiations fail, they will initiate the strike.