Ch'en Hui-hsiung, one of nine members of a preparatory committee in a silk factory's trade union analyzes the situation saying, "Now, more than one thousand workers finally have their own trade union. In the future they can sit down and negotiate with their boss on an equal basis." From a legal stance the trade union is considered a corporate person. Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, the nations highest-ranking corporation with sales of more than NT$45 billion last year is also a corporate person.

At the negotiating table it's one on one. In this way labor representatives won't have the feeling of being inferior.

Lin Chung-cheng says, "Under the mutual influence of the objective environments both at home and abroad, the cost of labor differs greatly from before. Now is the most opportune time for preparing labor unions."

Large labor classes are essential to a strong union and this is exactly the collective strength which domestic labor unions possess. According to the common definition held internationally, labor includes both blue-collar and white-collar employees. At present there are six million laborers on Taiwan that account for an estimated one-third of the population. Ch'ai Sung-lin, a professor at National Chengchi University says, "The labor sector has already grown to become the nation's largest collective body."

At present in the domestic labor market, labor costs are high, which makes it a good opportunity for labor unions to gain momentum. The R.O.C. has not yet been able to sufficiently guarantee labor rights as a chip of trade negotiations, so if the labor unions are going to develop strongly then they must be able to gain the attention of the government.

An optimistic labor union activist says with excitement that the force of labor union activity is just a "coming attraction." The actual "feature" is guaranteed to be even better. On the other hand there are sociologists and economists who have analyzed the structure of Taiwan's industries and feel that with an estimated seventy percent of small and mid-sized businesses where there is a family relationship involved, it's unlikely that unions will develop like those in Europe, the U.S., and South Korea.

No matter what degree labor unions develop to in the future, the biggest concern for the development of domestic labor unions is a question of revisions in the law. If laws concerning labor unions and the relationship between labor and management can be revised quickly, then these relationships can carry on and develop normally. What's needed even more is a neutral arbitration and regulation committee so that the unions will not be used politically as a "strategic weapon."

Ideally, the factory should be a "truce zone." This can only be accomplished through cooperation between labor and management. Labor unions will then no longer be a fuse for battle but instead, will act like a Cupid's arrow bringing two parties together.

[Picture Caption]

On April 20, the new board chairman of the Chinese Federation of Labor, Hsieh Shen-shan (center wearing a suite), laid off tree felling workers protest in front of the Control Yuan seeking to be entrusted with legal authority.

We can see the needs of the working environment by examining the want ads.

On April 15 the number two Nan Ya Plastics Cooperation Factory in Linkou held elections for its trade union representative.

The greatest concern of most female workers is the family. They are not so concerned with profit making. Their interest in trade unions is not as high as males.

The greatest concern of most female workers is the family. They are not so concerned with profit making. Their interest in trade unions is not as high as males.

Most domestic bosses and employees of small and mid-sized businesses have a close relation-ship. Workers are unlikely to form unions and protest against the management.

Recently many train engineers called in sick for more holidays and pay increases.

This taxi driver says frankly, "The only thing that I've gotten out of joining the labor union is labor insurance."

On April 15 the number two Nan Ya Plastics Cooperation Factory in Linkou held elections for its trade union representative.

On April 15 the number two Nan Ya Plastics Cooperation Factory in Linkou held elections for its trade union representative.

On April 15 the number two Nan Ya Plastics Cooperation Factory in Linkou held elections for its trade union representative.

The greatest concern of most female workers is the family. They are not so concerned with profit making. Their interest in trade unions is not as high as males.

Most domestic bosses and employees of small and mid-sized businesses have a close relation-ship. Workers are unlikely to form unions and protest against the management.

Recently many train engineers called in sick for more holidays and pay increases.

This taxi driver says frankly, "The only thing that I've gotten out of joining the labor union is labor insurance.".