ML Publication
A Learning Process for Solidarity and Struggle: On NCITU /CHIU
Yu-Bin, Secretary of Chinese Telecommunication Workers' Union
The solidarity action of workers have been cruelly oppressed by the ruling class in a long term in Taiwan as well as in other Asian countries. Since the 1980s, Taiwan workers have overcome tremendous oppression to initiate a new wave of independent union movement. Workers have transformed the yellow unions or built new ones, and the rights of working class began to be partially protected. However, the national organizations of unions are still limited. The only legal general federation, the “National General Federation of China” is a super big yellow union controlled by the KMT and the capitalists. There is no genuine national organization belonging to Taiwan workers.
It did not change until 1997, when independent trade unions in grassroots formed county-level federations of industrial trade unions in Taipei city and county, Kaohsiung city and county, Tainan, Miaoli, Hsinchu and Ilan counties. In addition to organizing the workers, these 8 federations began to challenge the regulations set up by the ruling class, and try to form alliance with some trans-area unions , such as Chinese Telecommunication Workers' Union, Taiwan Oil Trade Union, Taiwan Electricity Power Trade Union, Taiwan Railway Trade Union, Federation of Trade Unions of Taiwan Tobacco and Wine Monopoly Bureau, Ta-Tung Industrial Trade Union, and have established the PPCNCITU, with the hope of developing the labor movement as the primary social force in Taiwan. NCITU organized “Rally for the Dream of a New Society” on May 1st, 1998, the greatest mobilization of workers in Taiwan since WWII. The May 1st this year organized the rally of “The Nightmare of the New Taiwanese -- Anti-Unemployment,”in which more than half of counties and cities in Taiwan held simultaneous rallies.
It is difficult to put the slogan “Workers’ Solidarity” into praxis. But more than 400 grassroots unions with more than 250,000 members are beginning to transform this slogan to action. Although NCITU is still in the process of promoting and preparing, the goal of our learning and struggle is set to organize nation wide, to fight against the political and economic regime monopolized by the government and capitalists.
The solidarity action of workers have been cruelly oppressed by the ruling class in a long term in Taiwan as well as in other Asian countries. Since the 1980s, Taiwan workers have overcome tremendous oppression to initiate a new wave of independent union movement. Workers have transformed the yellow unions or built new ones, and the rights of working class began to be partially protected. However, the national organizations of unions are still limited. The only legal general federation, the “National General Federation of China” is a super big yellow union controlled by the KMT and the capitalists. There is no genuine national organization belonging to Taiwan workers.
It did not change until 1997, when independent trade unions in grassroots formed county-level federations of industrial trade unions in Taipei city and county, Kaohsiung city and county, Tainan, Miaoli, Hsinchu and Ilan counties. In addition to organizing the workers, these 8 federations began to challenge the regulations set up by the ruling class, and try to form alliance with some trans-area unions , such as Chinese Telecommunication Workers' Union, Taiwan Oil Trade Union, Taiwan Electricity Power Trade Union, Taiwan Railway Trade Union, Federation of Trade Unions of Taiwan Tobacco and Wine Monopoly Bureau, Ta-Tung Industrial Trade Union, and have established the PPCNCITU, with the hope of developing the labor movement as the primary social force in Taiwan. NCITU organized “Rally for the Dream of a New Society” on May 1st, 1998, the greatest mobilization of workers in Taiwan since WWII. The May 1st this year organized the rally of “The Nightmare of the New Taiwanese -- Anti-Unemployment,”in which more than half of counties and cities in Taiwan held simultaneous rallies.
It is difficult to put the slogan “Workers’ Solidarity” into praxis. But more than 400 grassroots unions with more than 250,000 members are beginning to transform this slogan to action. Although NCITU is still in the process of promoting and preparing, the goal of our learning and struggle is set to organize nation wide, to fight against the political and economic regime monopolized by the government and capitalists.
posted by @ 8/29/1999 08:25:00 PM
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