Supreme Court rejects appeal by EVA Airways over 2019 strike

Taipei, April 25 (CNA) The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an appeal by EVA Airways, which sought NT$34 million (US$1.04 million) in compensation from a Taoyuan union over damage caused by a 20-day flight attendant strike in 2019.

The decision was final and it cannot be further appealed, the court said.

On April 19, 2019, members of the Taoyuan Flight Attendants' Union (TFAU) voted to go on strike after its representatives and the airline could not agree on improved salaries and working conditions. The walkout was eventually launched on June 20 that same year.

In response, the company filed a civil lawsuit against the union, claiming that the strike action was illegal and caused a huge financial loss to the company as well as damage to its reputation because of interruptions to passengers' travel plans.

The strike officially ended on July 10 that year after the airline signed an agreement with TFAU to improve working conditions, although it did not drop the suit against the union.

In March 2022, the case was heard by the Taipei District Court, which ruled the strike action lawful under the Act for Settlement of Labor-Management Disputes.

The court also said it did not find that the union had engaged in what the carrier alleged were improper actions, such as organizing the strike or making excessive demands.

EVA Airways later filed an appeal, but the ruling was subsequently upheld by the Taiwan High Court. Another appeal was again filed by the company, but was rejected by the Supreme Court.