After over one-year struggle with the bank and government, Lai Wan Chih, President of National Federation of Bank Employees Unions (NFBEU) and AROBIFU Treasurer has gained dignity and respect as a continuous union fighter over 20 years in banking unions and in Taiwan labor movement. On June 30th 2010, The First Bank headquarter sent out the formal letter of approval of brother LAI Wan-Chih's pais work leaves sustained until end of his terms of office on April 30th 2012.
Since the NFBEU established in 1993, its president has been legally approved to have paid work leaves for 3 years in accordance with his term of office to deal with daily union affairs on the basis of negotiation result between the president and his employer. The current NFBEU president Lai, Wan-Chih was no exception until he was re-elected as union president on April 22nd, 2009. Lai's employer, the First Bank, approved paid work leaves for 3 months only and asked Lai to apply every 3 months afterwards. Though the Council of Labor Affairs, the central competent authority on labor affairs in Taiwan, has declared on this certain case that "it should be settled in accordance with previous custom", meaning that the First Bank should follow the previous custom which results from numerous negotiation, the bank chairperson Mr. Chen Yuh Chang insisted on implementation.
The largest shareholder of the First Bank is the government and what they have done has been considered as serious union suppression which destroyed tripartite relations. On July 9th, NFBEU unionists and other supportive unionists from Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions, Taiwan Petroleum Workers Union, Taiwan Railway Labor Union and leading labor organization, Taiwan Labor Front, all assembled in front of the Executive Yuan to protest against the government, demanding that the state-controlled First Bank should respect union autonomy and rights and stop unfair labor practice immediately.
In particular, this has violated what Taiwan President Ma, Ying-Jeou promised to workers, "ensuring dignity of labor", during his presidential election campaign in 2008. President Ma addressed again to union members and AROBIFU leaders who visited NFBEU while celebrating 15th anniversary in September, 2008 that "government should establish legal systems that support union development and organization to enhance negotiation strength of unions" which was also broken.
Last August, NFBEU sent out international petition letters appealing for support. AROBIFU friends in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Nepal, Korea and etc. responded immediately and wrote to Taiwan President Ma showing their full support. Letters from important international communities drew attention of President Office right away and they began to find communication channels with NFBEU, whether formal or informal.
During the first AROBIFU Directive Bureau Meeting in KL Malaysia in October 2009, AROBIFU office bearers, members of directive bureau, brothers and sisters of NUBE who sacrificed their precious time for lunch and friends from Indonesia bank unions went to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur to demonstrate for our demands on Lai's unfair labor practice. All the internal and international pressure has harshly push the Taiwan Ma government to initiate a negotiation on basis of mutual trust.
In mid-June 2010, Secretary General to the President, Mr. Liao Liouyi, NFBEU President Lai, Vice President Lin, Secretary General Hang and Managing Board Director Huang met at the Office of the President. NFBEU representatives had promises from Liao which were realized after some days. Brother Lai has gained his right and dignity back which proves that justice should return to labor that deserves it.