AGC Display Glass employees protest at MOL ahead of 10/5 strike

Taipei, Sept. 30 (CNA) The employee union of AGC Display Glass Taiwan protested outside the Ministry of Labor (MOL) in Taipei on Wednesday ahead of a strike over allegedly low and stagnant wages next week.

Speaking at a press briefing, Huang Tzu-chien (黃子謙), deputy head of the company's labor union, said employees had legally voted to initiate a strike beginning on Monday, and called on the Labor Ministry to help mediate with management.

In the 25 years since the Japanese company opened its factory in Yunlin County, it has never given an across-the-board pay raise, leaving many long-term employees stuck with "ridiculously" low salaries, Huang said.

This year, the company has also begun downgrading other types of compensation, such as by rolling mid-year bonuses into workers' base salaries, eliminating rewards for long-term service, and reneging on planned salary increases, Huang said.

AGC's long-term issues with stagnant, low salaries have caused high employee turnover, Huang said, adding that the union is trying to address the problem to help retain talent and ensure operational sustainability.

Cheng Nai-wei (鄭乃維), deputy head of the Yunlin County General Federation of Industrial Unions, claimed that AGC's Japanese employees received 5-6 percent raises every year, while those in Taiwan were "deceived" in negotiations with the company over the summer.

According to media reports, the union's demands include a 5 percent raise for all employees, while the union head has begun an 80-hour hunger strike outside the AGC factory's entrance.

The union said it represents almost 1,000 of the company's 1,600 employees.

Among union members, around 90 percent took part in the vote to authorize the strike, with 96 percent voting in favor, it added.

MOL, company respond

In response, the Labor Ministry said the AGC union had completed mediation and voting procedures in accordance with the Act for Settlement of Labor-Management Disputes, and had legally secured the right to strike.

The MOL said it "respects" the exercise of rights by labor unions, noting that company management is prohibited from taking retaliatory measures against union members or employees engaging in a strike.

The ministry said the union had "repeatedly sought rational communication" with the company, but has been unable to reach a consensus.

It urged AGC management to acknowledge the contributions and "listen to the voices" of its staff, and to respond to the union's demands with good faith and sincerity.

In the coming days, the ministry will work with the Yunlin County government to establish dialogue between the two sides, ensuring maximum protection of workers' rights and a resolution to the dispute, the MOL said.

Meanwhile, an AGC Display Glass Taiwan representative told CNA the company has consistently communicated with the labor union in good faith, and that it has prepared a proposal and urged the union to resume negotiations on Thursday.