The EVA flight operation was generally smooth on Jan. 3. However, the Taoyuan International Airport Services, which is responsible for 70 percent of the ground handling volume at Taoyuan Airport, also did not rule out a strike during the Lunar New Year.
There were still cancellations of EVA flights at Taoyuan Airport early on the 3rd. There was no queue at the check-in counter and the operation was generally smooth as the holiday season ended. Passengers said they did not wait too long.
Passenger: “Maybe there are fewer flights today. If there are more flights, it will definitely cause a backup.”
Passenger: “I hope the labor and management sides have a good negotiation. I think it should be all smooth.”
EVA Air stated that the 10 ground staff who temporarily asked for leave on the 3rd did not affect flight operations. However, the ground handling situation at Taoyuan Airport has not yet come to an end. Taoyuan International Airport Services, which belongs to the China Airlines Group, accounts for 70 percent of the ground handling business at Taoyuan Airport. It entered into labor dispute mediation as salary adjustment negotiations for employees broke down. If the negotiation fails, a union vote for a strike will take place. It is expected the union will obtain the legal right to strike before the Lunar New Year holidays.
Chiu Yu-cheng, Director, TIAS Labor Union: “We will hold some briefings before the 4th to explain to everyone the situation. After the briefings, a vote to strike will be held.”
Tourist operators say the consequences will be difficult to deal with if a ground staff strike paralyzes the airport during the first Lunar New Year holidays after the border lockdown has been lifted. They call on the competent authorities to actively deal with the situation.
Lee Chi-yueh, PR Head, Travel Quality Assurance Assoc.: “The first Lunar New Year holiday break after the lockdown is very important for the tourism industry. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications should assist as soon as possible to negotiate a good solution.”
Chi Wen-chung, Deputy MOTC Minister: “Everyone has their demands. Everyone should sit down and sincerely discuss each side's demands. If we can solve the problems, then the strike won't happen.”
The MOTC emphasized that it will urge the Civil Aeronautics Administration to ask the airline management to sincerely communicate with employees. It hopes to resolve the oncoming storm that may paralyze the airport during the Lunar New Year break.
一早桃園機場的班機到離看板，仍有長榮航班取消，隨著連假落幕，報到櫃台並未出現排隊人潮，而行李轉盤區運作也大致順暢，旅客說並沒有等太久。
旅客說道：「可能是今天班機比較少，如果可能班機多了，就一定會造成塞車的問題。」
旅客指出：「就是勞資雙方好好協談，我想應該都會很順暢。」
長榮航空表示，3日臨時請假的地勤10位，並未影響航班運作。但桃園機場地勤不加班風波還沒落幕，隸屬華航集團、占桃園機場地勤業務量7成的「桃勤公司」，日前因向公司爭調薪，但是協商破裂，已經進入勞資爭議調解進度，若協商再不成，將進入罷工投票，可望在春節前取得合法罷工權。
桃園航勤企業工會理事邱禹誠說明：「4日之後那就是這個之前要開一些說明會，跟大家說明之後，就是進行所謂的（罷工）投票。」
對此，旅遊業者大聲疾呼，解封後的第一個農曆新年假期，若真遇上地勤罷工癱瘓機場，後果難以收拾，呼籲主管機關要積極處理。
旅遊品保協會公關主委李奇嶽提及：「第一個疫情過後的春節檔期，當然對於我們旅行業來講，相對非常重要，交通部能夠儘快協助大家，來協商一個好的解決方案。」
交通部次長祁文中表示：「大家都有他的訴求，針對他的訴求大家就坐下來誠心的大家來討論，如果解決問題就不會發生。」
交通部強調，將督促民航局要求航空業者誠心和員工溝通，希望能化解春節機場被癱瘓的風暴。
