TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In response to a potential workers' strike, Taiwan Railway Corporation (TR, 台鐵公司) said on Friday (Sept. 13) that it would coordinate with relevant departments to explore the possibility of relaxing the voucher policy and continuing negotiations to reach a consensus.
The Taiwan Railway Labor Union (TRLU, 台灣鐵路工會) threatened to strike after the corporation announced plans to issue Mid-Autumn Festival bonuses as vouchers instead of cash in a press release on Sept. 12.
The company traditionally awards bonuses only during the Lunar New Year. The TR, however, announced plans on Sept. 10 to issue NT$1,500 worth of vouchers to employees working during the festival. They also revealed plans to implement similar bonuses for the annual Tomb-Sweeping Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival.
The union criticized the change from cash to vouchers and stated the original plan, approved by the labor-management meeting and the board of directors, promised an NT$1,500 cash bonus per day for working during traditional festivals. The union claimed the management's decision to switch to vouchers showed disregard for employees, and breached the initial agreement.
Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) expressed support for holiday bonuses and instructed the railway corporation's chairman and general manager to communicate effectively with employees on Friday.