After more than 15 hours of negotiation, the first CBA of foreign bank in Taiwan was formally signed at midnight of 2009 May 8th. Accompanying the CBA, early retirement package was announced by the management, approved and taken effect. The union addressed that though the finally signed CBA could not satisfy with every member's expectation, the goal of "securing dignity and job security for employees who chose to stay; ensuring reasonable compensation for employees who chose to leave" was insisted by the union and made the history of struggles from the bottom.
No promise in writings, no negotiation
The CBA negotiation has been processed for almost a year and with the pressure of coming due date of signing, both the management and union intensified communication formally and informally. The management still held rights of opinion on certain clauses of CBA after all were discussed and concluded on March 18th and did not finalize the retirement package as promised, the union convened temporary representative meeting twice for responding strategies. Though the management lobbied for reopening communications with union, employees addressed that no negotiation would exist if no retirement package in writings was provided and strike was unavoidable.
10-hour marathon negotiation
The last battle was convened at NFBEU headquarter in Taipei city and participated by 3 authorized union representatives for CBA negotiation and 1 union lawyer, 2 foreign Standard Chartered Bank HR managers in Asia region and 2 bank lawyers, and president and secretary general of NFBEU. After 10-hour negotiation, three documents were signed: the finalized version of CBA, retirement package in writings of negotiation record, and meeting record of consensus that both foresaid documents could be taken effect only if both were approved at the same time.
25 vote yes with no rejection
All the union representatives had been waiting for the final negotiated CBA in Hsin-Chu city for the whole day. A few left but most of them stayed and kept their concern for any progress during negotiation. Around 11pm, the vote to approve the negotiated CBA began and the result was 25 approvals with no rejection. This meaningful signing of CBA ended on early morning of May 9th witnessed by NFBEU president and secretary general, lawyers of both sides and director of Labor Affair Division of Hsin-Chu City Government, demonstrating union strength for other bank unions, especially foreign ones.
Congratulations and expectations
The Standard Chartered Bank CBA successfully signed after the merger indicates that the 2 merged union could also unite as one force to fight for better conditions for those choosing to leave or stay. The experiences they have been through and history they have created by themselves while confronting with foreign bank, a hostile and profit seeking buyer, are the inspiring story for all bank employees and bank unionists. The management has kept their words of "recognizing legal status of the union, signing CBA with union, approving retirement package" which should be appreciated. The signed CBA is just the beginning; more battles at different levels and in various aspects were coming as challenge to the union.