Labor Activists Say Civil Servants Need Unions

Labor activists say civil servants' associations the government promotes are no substitute for full unions.

Transcript

00:00It's been almost ten months since this fatal factory fire in southern Taiwan energized

00:05a labor movement.

00:06Four firefighters were killed, and when it emerged that the factory violated safety rules,

00:11their colleagues were outraged.

00:14Firefighters demanded the right to form unions, something Taiwan doesn't allow for civil servants.

00:18The most they're allowed is a semi-union that can't do collective bargaining agreements

00:22or call strikes.

00:24And despite their protests, the government still says these unions are the way forward.

00:28On Thursday, the cabinet approved changes that make it easier for civil servants to

00:32form these special associations.

00:47The government branch that deals with civil service exams has approved the changes, too.

00:52It says letting first responders strike could be dangerous.

00:58But firefighters say the associations are still hard to form.

01:12A union takes just 30 people, but an association 150 to 300.

01:17And in any case, they say, the associations are toothless when it comes to labor disputes.

01:28And it isn't just firefighters.

01:36Police and court clerks have their own groups airing labor grievances and demanding unions.

01:41In Umbrella Group for Them All, the Coalition of Taiwan Civil Service Reform Drivers has

01:45joined the firefighters in rejecting these alternative associations.

01:58The rule changes are now before the legislature.

02:07But with both officials and civil servants dug in, there's little sign this labor dispute

02:12is on its way to a resolution.

02:14Klein Wong and John Van Triest for Taiwan Plus.