President Tsai Ing-wen has spoken out on behalf of flight attendants facing expulsion from their union for working during a strike.
Some of the flight attendants were working aboard Tsai’s chartered plane during her recent state visit to Latin America. China Airlines flight attendants based in the Taipei area were on strike at the time.
Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang said Wednesday that Tsai is concerned the flight attendants who were on her chartered flights may face unfair treatment.
"She thinks that her first diplomatic trip was an important mission in foreign affairs. She is grateful for the wholehearted service provided by the flight crew during the journey and for their service to the country," said Huang. "She believes they should not receive any unfair treatment. She has told her aides to tell China Airlines to protect their rights."
If the flight attendants are expelled from their union, they could each face NT$12,000 (US$378) in lost income every month. But union Secretary General Lin Chia-wei said rules against strike-breaking do not necessarily apply to flight crew serving on flights chartered for the president. The union has yet to reach a decision on its next step. Only four flight attendants have appealed against expulsion from the union so far.