TransAsia Airways flight attendants accuse company of treating them as 'disposable chopsticks'; revival of TransAsia and Uni Air with 5 statements in counterattack

▲ Uni Air. (Photo / Reporter Cai Wenjun)

Reporter Chen Ruizhong / Comprehensive Report

Regarding the rights and interests of TransAsia Airways flight attendants and employees, the Taoyuan City Flight Attendants’ Union today petitioned the Ministry of Transportation, including claims that China Airlines (through its subsidiary Uni Air) used TransAsia to test the market and treated TransAsia as disposable 'chopsticks.' Both Uni Air and China Airlines also issued statements in response, with China Airlines stating that the accusations were 'untrue.'

The Taoyuan City Flight Attendants’ Union pointed out in their petition that the number of passengers on TransAsia has increased by more than 3.5 times compared to the same period last year, with an average load factor of 75%, indicating a promising outlook for the airline. However, due to the policies of the parent company, China Airlines, TransAsia will cease operations for one year starting October 1st. China Airlines will take over flights from TransAsia to Chiang Mai, Fukuoka, and Ibaraki starting September, using TransAsia as a tool to test the market and routes.

In response to the Taoyuan City Flight Attendants’ Union’s petition, both Uni Air and China Airlines have issued statements, among whichUni Airstated that the Taoyuan City Flight Attendants’ Union has recently made one-sided and untrue remarks multiple times, attempting to mislead the public through specific forms of protest activities, and seemingly representing all Uni Air employees. However, Uni Air employees include over 200 staff members across various departments, and the Taoyuan Flight Attendants’ Union cannot represent all Uni Air employees. Moreover, its irrational protest methods do not help labor-management negotiations, but may instead cause negotiations to break down, returning to square one and losing any goodwill that could have been achieved. Their goal is not genuinely aimed at the rights and interests of all employees.

Uni AirThe statement also pointed out that the Taoyuan City Flight Attendants’ Union has repeatedly used inflammatory slogans in public, mentioning untrue statements such as Uni Air making profits on certain routes and China Airlines seizing flight rights. Except for Tokyo Haneda, all other routes operated by Uni Air are under open skies policies with no flight restrictions, allowing any national airline to freely apply for flight rights. Where is the so-called seizure of flight rights? Furthermore, whether Uni Air’s operated routes are profitable is unsubstantiated and cannot be concluded by the union. In addition, there is no fact that China Airlines began operating the Chiang Mai, Fukuoka, and Ibaraki routes in September. Using incorrect information to mislead public opinion will ultimately be debunked by facts and fail to achieve its specific intentions.

Regarding the labor-management negotiations for Uni Air’s suspension of operations, the company respects the rights and demands raised by the employees. Currently, negotiations are being mediated by the Taipei City Labor Bureau. The company has also offered a severance plan that is better than the Labor Standards Act (for example, colleagues who have worked at Uni Air for two years or more can receive severance pay exceeding three months, which is better than the one month stipulated by the Labor Standards Act). The above severance plan was also agreed upon by nearly 70% of employee representatives, including pilots and administrative staff, during the second labor-management negotiation meeting. The Taipei City Labor Bureau has also scheduled a third negotiation meeting for September 22.

▲ The Taoyuan City Flight Attendants’ Union petitioned the Ministry of Transportation today. (Photo / Reporter Cai Wenjun)

China AirlinesAlso issued five statements today in counterattack, with content and demands largely similar to those of Uni Air. It pointed out that since its first flight in December 2014, all of Uni Air’s routes have been unprofitable, with cumulative losses exceeding 1.1 billion NT dollars, showing a gradually expanding trend, thus reluctantly ceasing operations. Additionally, Japan and Thailand operate under open skies policies where flight rights belong to both countries, not to Uni Air or China Airlines. All national airlines can freely apply for flight rights. To promptly arrange for the transfer of passengers on Uni Air’s Chiang Mai and Fukuoka routes, China Airlines is applying for flight rights and reopening these routes to make rational use of its fleet capacity.

China Airlines stated that airlines consist of more than just flight attendants. Uni Air’s 253 employees also include pilots, maintenance staff, and colleagues from various departments, and labor agreements have been gradually reached with all. The 68 flight attendants do not represent all 253 Uni Air employees. Furthermore, China Airlines’ statement also mentioned that Uni Air employees who have worked for two years or more can receive severance pay exceeding three months, better than the one month stipulated by the Labor Standards Act. China Airlines also urges Uni Air flight attendants to return to rational channels to facilitate subsequent labor-management negotiations.

The full text of China Airlines’ statement is as follows:
Regarding the demands made by the Taoyuan City Flight Attendants’ Union at the Ministry of Transportation today (21st), which are filled with untrue accusations, China Airlines today issues five solemn responses:
First, since its first flight in December 2014, all of Uni Air’s routes have been unprofitable, with cumulative losses exceeding 1.1 billion NT dollars, showing a gradually expanding trend, thus reluctantly ceasing operations.

Second, under high operational pressure, the parent company China Airlines has offered conditions better than the Labor Standards Act in order to take care of Uni Air employees as much as possible. (For example, colleagues who have worked at Uni Air for two years or more can receive severance pay exceeding three months, which is better than the one month stipulated by the Labor Standards Act).

Third, airlines consist of more than just flight attendants. Uni Air’s 253 employees also include pilots, maintenance staff, and colleagues from various departments, and labor agreements have been gradually reached with all. The 68 flight attendants do not represent all 253 Uni Air employees.

Fourth, the union's claim that 'China Airlines began flying routes originally operated by Uni Air in September, such as Chiang Mai, Fukuoka, and Ibaraki' is not true. Furthermore, Japan and Thailand operate under open skies policies where flight rights belong to both countries, not to Uni Air or China Airlines. All national airlines can freely apply for flight rights.

Fifth, to promptly arrange for the transfer of passengers on Uni Air’s Chiang Mai and Fukuoka routes, China Airlines is applying for flight rights and reopening these routes to make rational use of its fleet capacity. When a business faces changes in its operating environment, adapting to survive is necessary—where is the so-called seizure of flight rights?

China Airlines sincerely urges Uni Air flight attendants to return to rational channels to facilitate subsequent labor-management negotiations.

TransAsia Airways sincerely urges EVA Air flight attendants to return to rational channels to facilitate the progress of subsequent labor-management negotiations.