TNL Daily News
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The Taoyuan Union of Pilots and China Airlines signed a collective bargaining agreement last night, putting an end to a seven-day pilots’ strike.
The agreement followed an 11-hour negotiation session to resolve pending issues. The two sides agreed to establish an open and transparent pilot training system and to settle future disputes without work stoppages over the next three and half years, during which the collective agreement will be in place.
China Airlines pledged not to punish workers who took part in the strike and promised to improve its corporate management culture and its communication with the union. The airline also agreed to give flight safety bonuses to pilots – the exact amount is set to be determined during separate negotiations to be held on Thursday next week.
The pilots’ strike, Taiwan’s first, resulted hundreds of flight cancellations and disrupted the travel plans of thousands traveling during the Lunar New Year holiday. It drew attention to dismal work conditions on board Taiwan’s airlines, an issue which received attention when fellow Taiwanese airline EVA Air found itself embroiled in several recent controversies.
Some pilots have already returned to work, according to the Taipei Times, which has a breakdown of the final round of negotiations.
Wu Den-yih touts China peace treaty, criticizes DPP travel ban
Kuomintang (KMT) chairman Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) said yesterday his party could seek to sign a peace treaty with China should it return to office in the upcoming 2020 presidential election.
Wu said the KMT, should it return to power early next year, would be within its rights to sign a cross-Strait peace treaty and reaffirmed his party’s position on the so-called “1992 consensus” – which, since Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Jan. 2 speech on Taiwan, has favored a shared agreement that there is “one China” but a refusal to accept Xi’s definition of the consensus as mandating a “one country, two systems” form of governance.
Wu also criticized DPP caucus plans to lengthen travel bans to China for former government officials from three years to six years after leaving office, saying they would set a bad example for future administrations.
Wu is rumored to be strongly considering a run for president, joining prospective KMT candidates Eric Chu (朱立倫) and Wang Jin-pyng (王金平). Former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) is also rumored to be considering entering the race.
Credit: Facebook / Wu Den-yih
Other news from Taiwan:
► Japan says it will welcome Taiwan’s bid to join a multinational trade pact as the two countries attempt to repair relations damaged by a November referendum on food imports from Japan’s Fukushima disaster area. (Taipei Times)
► Mobile virtual network operator Circles.Life announced on Thursday it is planning to enter Taiwan later this year. (Channel NewsAsia)
► The Control Yuan says embattled National Taiwan University (NTU) president Kuan Chun-ming (管中閔) earned about NT$16 million (US$518,925) illegally. (Taipei Times)
► A U.S. Democratic association passed a resolution on Wednesday reaffirming Washington’s commitment to Taiwan. (Taipei Times)
► If you are searching for a mate after Valentine’s Day, why not travel to the Xia Hai temple and consult with the “Love God”? (CNN)
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Editor: Nick Aspinwall (@Nick1Aspinwall)
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