Guai Guai Workers in Taiwan Vote 94% to Strike Over Factory Relocation
Workers at Guai Guai's Zhongli factory voted 94% for strike action after the company announced relocation to Hsinchu and sold the site to ASE for NT$5.6 billion.
Workers at the Guai Guai Company factory in Zhongli, Taiwan, have voted 94% in favor of strike action, following the company's announcement on September 1 that it would relocate its operations to Hsinchu, about 45 minutes south by car.
The relocation comes as Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. (ASE) purchased the Zhongli site for NT$5.6 billion (US$176.1 million). The company has offered workers a 5% pay increase if they relocate or commute to the new factory.
However, the union is demanding written guarantees on severance packages and pay raises. Specifically, they are seeking a NT$10,000 (US$315) monthly salary increase for workers who stay on.
The Taoyuan Department of Labor is monitoring the situation and could step in to mediate the dispute.
Guai Guai snacks are considered good luck charms in Taiwan's semiconductor industry and are often placed on machinery, according to tomshardware.com.
Quick answers
Why are Guai Guai workers striking?
Workers voted 94% in favor of strike action after the company announced it would relocate its factory from Zhongli to Hsinchu and sold the Zhongli site to ASE.
What does the union want?
The union is seeking written guarantees on severance packages and pay raises, including a NT$10,000 (US$315) monthly salary increase for workers who stay on.
What has the company offered?
The company has offered a 5% pay increase if workers relocate or commute to the new factory in Hsinchu.