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Lawrence Chung

Danny Lee

Flight attendants from one of Taiwan’s biggest carriers, EVA Air, went on indefinite strike on Thursday afternoon, following a breakdown in talks with the company over pay, according to the employees’ union.
The Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union said cabin crew who were union members were required to go on strike.
“After repeatedly negotiating with the company over the disputes with no result, the union realises that discussions will not lead to a resolution, and we hereby announce that all union members will go on strike,” Chou Sheng-kai, the union’s deputy secretary general, said.
“But we are still open to resuming talks if EVA has any proposals to change the situation.”
The union said the two parties had been in dispute over allowances and annual bonuses as well as overtime work since 2017.
According to EVA, the carrier employed 4,305 cabin crew as of April – about a third of its total workforce.
The union said that about 3,000 of EVA’s flight attendants were union members and they had to abide by the union’s decision and stay away from work during the strike period.
Aviation authorities estimated that in the first 24 hours after the walkout, the industrial action would affect at least 7,000 passengers and 76 flights, including 33 between Taiwan and the mainland.
By Thursday night, EVA had cancelled 16 flights, including a number to Hong Kong, Hangzhou, Bangkok, Chicago, Paris and Vienna. The Taiwanese carrier operates nine return flights between Taipei and Hong Kong daily.

Passengers who bought tickets on EVA via Hong Kong Airlines could also be affected, although HKA and China Airlines, another major Taiwanese carrier, could help fly some stranded travellers.
There were long queues at EVA check-in counters at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport on Thursday afternoon as passengers tried to find out if their flights had been cancelled or delayed.
EVA apologised to affected passengers and promised to do all it could to arrange to transfers to other flights.
Hsiao Po-jen, president of Taiwan’s Travel Agent Association, accused the union of “hijacking” travellers for its own ends.
“This is just awful – the union gave passengers no time to change their travel plans before taking the industrial action,” Hsiao said.
Strike over: Taiwan’s China Airlines and pilots reach deal to end week-long walkout
But Chou said EVA refused to recognise the union’s demands and was not sincere about resolving the dispute, threatening to cut the pay and benefits of strikers.
“The airlines still has 1,000 or so flight attendants for services and we have also asked the airline to use their reserve staff for domestic flights to reduce the impact on local passengers,” he said.
The union’s demands include an increase in allowances for unionised flight attendants working offshore from NT$90 (US$3) to NT$150 per flight hour.
It has also called on EVA Air to allow flight attendants to do just one leg – rather than the two at present – before an overnight break on nine specific regional routes.
The union said the shifts on the nine routes often exceeded 12 hours, contravening the island’s Labour Standards Act. The routes include ones between Taiwan and Tokyo, Beijing, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, Harbin, Shenyang, and Hohhot.
The industrial action comes just months after a week-long strike by pilots from China Airlines forced about 30,000 passengers to either change or cancel their travel plans over the Lunar New Year.
The strike cost the airline more than NT$500 million (US$16 million) in compensation to passengers and flight disruptions.


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Flight delays expected as cabin crew from Taiwan’s EVA Air strike over pay

EVA Air flight attendants have gone on strike in a dispute with the carrier over pay. Photo: CNA

D8PKF7 An Eva Air Boeing 747-400 (B-16412) jetliner on final approach for landing.

China Airlines pilots’ strike leads to angry scenes as passengers left stranded at Taiwan’s airports

Businesspeople and holidaymakers were left stranded at Taiwan’s airports on Friday as pilots from China Airlines went on strike. Photo: EPA-EFE

epa07351706 A passenger jet of Taiwan's China Airlines (CAL) takes off from the Taipei International Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, 08 February 2019. On 08 February, CAL pilots went on strike to demand better pay and working conditions, cancelling nearly 30 international flights with the possibility of nixing more flights in the coming days. CAL is Taiwan's largest airline and the pilot stirke will affect Taiwan people's travel plans during the Chinese Near Year holidays, which began on 05 February. EPA-EFE/DAVID CHANG

epa07351956 Passengers wait to check in near the counter of Taiwan's China Airlines (CAL) at the Taipei International Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, 08 February 2019. On 08 February, CAL pilots went on strike to demand better pay and working conditions, cancelling nearly 30 international flights with the possibility of nixing more flights in the coming days. CAL is Taiwan's largest airline and the pilot stirke will affect Taiwan people's travel plans during the Chinese Near Year holidays, which began on 05 February. EPA-EFE/DAVID CHANG EPA-EFE/DAVID CHANG

epa07351710 A man walks past he logo of Taiwan's China Airlines (CAL) at the Taipei International Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, 08 February 2019. On 08 February, CAL pilots went on strike to demand better pay and working conditions, cancelling nearly 30 international flights with the possibility of nixing more flights in the coming days. CAL is Taiwan's largest airline and the pilot stirke will affect Taiwan people's travel plans during the Chinese Near Year holidays, which began on 05 February. EPA-EFE/DAVID CHANG

epa07351747 Members of the Taoyuan Union of Pilots, led by pilot Chen Pei-pei (C), hold a news conference at the Taipei International Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, 08 February 2019. On 08 February, CAL pilots went on strike to demand better pay and working conditions, cancelling nearly 30 international flights with the possibility of nixing more flights in the coming days. CAL is Taiwan's largest airline and the pilot stirke will affect Taiwan people's travel plans during the Chinese Near Year holidays, which began on 05 February. EPA-EFE/DAVID CHANG

China Airlines promises compensation to stranded passengers as pilot strike continues

Thousands of passengers stranded by a dispute between Taiwan’s China Airlines and the pilots’ union may be entitled to compensation. Photo: EPA

epa07356144 Striking pilots protest outside the Transport Ministry in Taipei, Taiwan, 09 February 2019 as pilots of Taiwan's Hina Airlines (CAL) and CAL officials hold talks at the ministry over pilots' strike. CAL pilots went on strike on 09 February for the second day to demand better pay and working conditions, cauding the cancellation of nearly 20 flights. EPA-EFE/DAVID CHANG

China Airlines agrees to meet pilot union after strike causes travel chaos with cancellations of 12 Hong Kong-Taiwan flights

A closed China Airlines booth at Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei, Taiwan. Photo: CNA

China Airlines' booth is seen at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei, Taiwan. 

Taipei, Feb. 8 (CNA) A strike by pilots has forced China Airlines, one of Taiwan's two major carriers, to cancel 26 flights departing from or arriving in the country Friday through Sunday, according to the airline.

China Airlines announced the cancelations on its website (https://calec.china-airlines.com/typhoon/FLIGHT_INFORMATION_en.aspx) after news late Thursday that hundreds of its 1,300 pilots could go on strike starting 6 a.m. Friday. All three major airports in Taiwan were expected to be affected.

The canceled flights include those for destinations such as Los Angeles, Manila, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

Taipei, Feb. 8 (CNA) A strike by pilots has forced China Airlines, one of Taiwan's two major carriers, to cancel 26 flights departing from or arriving in the country Friday through Sunday, according to the airline.

China Airlines announced the cancelations on its website (https://calec.china-airlines.com/typhoon/FLIGHT_INFORMATION_en.aspx) after news late Thursday that hundreds of its 1,300 pilots could go on strike starting 6 a.m. Friday. All three major airports in Taiwan were expected to be affected.

The canceled flights include those for destinations such as Los Angeles, Manila, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

epa07351593 (FILE) - Passenger jets of Taiwan's China Airlines (CAL) are parked at the Taoiyuan International Airport in Taoyuan County, northern Taiwan, 26 May 2018 (reissued 08 February 2019). On 08 February 2019, CAL pilots went on strike to demand better pay and working conditions, cancelling nearly 30 international flights with the possibility of nixing more flights in the coming days. CAL is Taiwan's largest airline and the pilot stirke will affect Taiwan people's travel plans during the Chinese Near Year holidays, or Spring Festival, which began on 05 February. EPA-EFE/DAVID CHANG

China Airlines' staff is seen at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei, Taiwan. 

Taipei, Feb. 8 (CNA) A strike by pilots has forced China Airlines, one of Taiwan's two major carriers, to cancel 26 flights departing from or arriving in the country Friday through Sunday, according to the airline.

China Airlines announced the cancelations on its website (https://calec.china-airlines.com/typhoon/FLIGHT_INFORMATION_en.aspx) after news late Thursday that hundreds of its 1,300 pilots could go on strike starting 6 a.m. Friday. All three major airports in Taiwan were expected to be affected.

The canceled flights include those for destinations such as Los Angeles, Manila, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

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Aviation authorities say industrial action will affect at least 7,000 passengers


Aviation authorities say industrial action will affect at least 7,000 passengers.


Flight delays expected as cabin crew from Taiwan’s EVA Air strike over pay

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Aviation authorities say industrial action will affect at least 7,000 passengers

Aviation authorities say industrial action will affect at least 7,000 passengers