EVA Air curbs sick leave penalties following flight attendant's death

Taipei, Oct. 31 (CNA) EVA Airways has agreed to ease penalties given to cabin crew for taking sick leave, following the death of a flight attendant who fell ill while working.

In a Facebook post Friday afternoon, the EVA Air Union said that under the new policy, flight attendants' performance evaluations will not be affected by the first three days of sick leave, nor will their right to self-arrange shifts -- three days per quarter -- be impacted.

The union added that attendants will also not face extra penalties on their performance reviews for taking days off during peak periods.

The changes are part of an agreement reached between the union and company representatives during negotiations earlier that day.

Company representatives, however, rejected proposals for more days of sick leave and all paid leave to be exempt from performance evaluations, citing operational concerns, the union said.

The union described the changes as "interim results," adding that it plans to cooperate with the Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union and unions representing medical and transport workers to push for legal amendments.

It also invited other major airline labor unions to petition the Civil Aeronautics Administration on Nov. 14, urging the agency to include labor conditions and major labor disputes in its review of aviation rights as a form of substantive administrative oversight.