Aijiexu union is going on strike, and the management is saying that wages can be negotiated but public safety cannot be interrupted.

Aijiexu Display Glass Company today announced that the union will carry out a strike in accordance with the law tomorrow (5th), saying that salary negotiations can continue, but high-temperature equipment and public safety cannot be interrupted. Union chairman Shen Quancheng (2nd from left) said that he was willing to abide by the security agreement but regretted that the list of workers in the preservation agreement issued by the company was grassroots technicians. (Photo by reporter Li Wende)

[Reporter Li Wende/Yunlin Report] The Japanese-owned AGC Group's Ai Jiexu Display Glass Company today told the union that it will carry out a strike in accordance with the law tomorrow (5th), saying that salary negotiations can continue, but high-temperature equipment and public safety cannot be interrupted. Shen Quancheng, chairman of the labor union, said that he was willing to abide by but regretted that the list of maintenance agreements issued by the company was for grassroots technicians. Supervisors with decision-making power such as squad leaders and team leaders should be the main ones to ensure the safety of high-temperature equipment.

Shen Quancheng pointed out that there are high-temperature kilns in the factory. In order to prevent work safety concerns such as glass leakage or fire, the union signed a preservation agreement with the employer about 2 or 3 years ago, stating that the process will not be interrupted but there will be no output during the strike. Therefore, the union is absolutely willing to abide by the contract commitment.

Shen Quancheng said that what was surprising was that the union had announced the strike schedule as early as two weeks ago, but the employer only announced the list of nearly 200 people in paper form before get off work on October 1, and did not consult employees in advance about their wishes and responsibilities. Many furloughed colleagues only learned that they were included in the list when they went to work on weekends.

Shen Quancheng believes that the list is all assigned to grassroots technicians. If there is a fire alarm or equipment abnormality, the grassroots level has no right to issue contingency strategies. The labor union has issued a document requesting a coordination meeting, suggesting that the list be adjusted to include cadres with decision-making power such as team leaders, squad leaders, section leaders or senior colleagues stationed on the front line, but there has been no positive response.