Today is the annual shareholders' meeting of China Steel Corporation (CSC). The day started with pleasant and cool weather, but as the brothers congregated in front of the main square of CSC, heavy rain suddenly poured down, almost as if the heavens were shedding tears for the frontline seafarers who tirelessly work but are often treated as disposable tools under fixed-term contracts.
Despite the morning downpour, the brothers gathered at the shareholders' meeting remained resolute. They voiced dissatisfaction, questioning whether Chairman Weng and the board had heard their pleas after three years of annual meetings. Messages from within China Steel Group commend the union's dedication, though some express envy for not being able to offer in-person support.
In the meeting, the union adopted a tactic of bombardment through a series of questions. Union officers took turns to question the Chairman various issues, including:
- The underpayment of retirement benefits to retired seafarers
- Penalties imposed for insufficient pension contributions
- The use of indefinite employment contracts for crew members
- The continued employment of crew members from China suppressing the rights of our union members
- The continuous presence of inexperienced leaders in the company
The union officers continued to take the stage and ask questions, challenging CSC Chairman to provide straightforward answers to the shareholders' inquiries.
While Chairman Weng expressed concern for the crew members and showed empathy for retired seafarers, he kept emphasizing that China Steel is a state-owned company, bound by legal constraints. He stated that the company couldn't offer higher retirement benefits to the crew due to the lack of legal provisions, giving off a vibe as if he were a robot sticking to a strict script. What's interesting is that his responses over the past three years remained nearly identical, lacking genuine engagement or any meaningful variation.
In reality, as per Chairman Weng’s statements, China Steel is reluctant to finalize settlements until a clear court ruling is in place, citing potential breach of trust accusations against company executives. Surprisingly, behind the scenes, the company has discreetly issued additional settlement payments to 51 retired seafarers in the past two years, all while requiring them to sign confidentiality agreements. Many of these retirees are left puzzled, unaware of the reasons behind the company's financial gestures. The company seems inclined to resolve matters quietly with those who stay silent, yet opts to contest cases brought to court by other seafarers.
The situation concerning insufficient pension contributions at China Steel Express is perplexing. Despite explicit rulings against the company from the labor bureau, appeals board, and administrative court, they insist that the company is unable to take action due to ongoing legal disputes. However, this assertion is unfounded, as there is neither a court precedent nor administrative interpretation supporting their stance. The Chairman, possibly misled by certain company higher-ups, seems unaware of the actual situation, leading to the dissemination of inaccurate statements that deceive shareholders.
Despite the tense and unstable relations between Taiwan and China, China Steel Express continues to hire a substantial number of seafarers, including ship captains, from China. This not only infringes on the rights of our domestic seafarers but also raises national security concerns. Confronted with this crucial issue, Chairman Weng's stated that the company would file lawsuits if a ship captain from China were to act against their interests during wartime.
It's known that enforcing judgments in a lawsuit becomes futile if the defendant has already fled during a war. Furthermore, what is the point of a favorable judgment if China has gained control of crucial coal and iron resources? The sheer lack of awareness and competence in this statement is beyond comprehension.
When asked about providing indefinite employment contracts for China Steel Express seafarers, Chairman Weng responded that, due to the stigma of being a state-owned enterprise, the company must adhere to industry norms and practices to lead the industry. However, the retirement benefits offered by CSE to seafarers are significantly lower than the industry average. This double standard approach is truly astonishing and leaves us speechless.
Following the union's extensive questioning, Chairman Weng appointed Vice Presidents Huang Y-Zhong and Chen Guan-fu as representatives to negotiate with the union. In the course of the negotiation meeting, Director Huang uncovered chronic issues within the company. Firstly, there was no predetermined timeframe for seafarers to return to work after disembarking. Furthermore, it was surprising to discover that the company lacked a standardized personnel evaluation committee, with employee discipline being solely determined by the personal preferences of management.
In response to the union's constructive criticisms, Director Huang acknowledged their complaints and pledged to address the following issues:
- Ensure that the current ratio of seafarers from China does not increase and strive to fill vacancies with Taiwanese seafarers once their contracts expire, with the ultimate goal of having zero seafarers from China.
- Sign a collective agreement prioritizing the dispatch of union members to ships.
- Establish a professional evaluation committee comprising maritime professionals and union members.
- Prioritize the resolution of retirement pension issues.
- Implement governance led by technical expertise.
Special thanks to all the supportive brothers for contributing to the success of today's appeal. United in our commitment to upholding the dignity of Taiwanese seafarers, our determination is recognized and supported by numerous CSG employees. Every labor right is the result of collective struggle. While establishing an independent union requires hard work, unity and shared ideals can bond us together. We encourage more brothers to join union activities, working together to enhance working conditions and overturn the misfortune of Taiwanese seafarers.
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