Labor Unions Band Together as Trump Tariff Deadline Approaches

TaiwanPlus News

Around 70 labor unions have banded together to demand Taiwan's government consult workers and keep them informed as it works to reach a tariff deal with Washington.

Transcript

00:00Labor unions are banding together to demand that as Taiwan talks tariffs with the Trump

00:04administration, workers aren't left behind.

00:07Dozens of labor unions are calling on officials to consult with them and not to leave them

00:11in the dark about negotiations.

00:14Inside the legislature, union reps have announced a fresh alliance, with around 70 groups pooling

00:19their numbers to push the government as it tries to stave off U.S. tariffs of up to 32%

00:24on Taiwanese goods.

00:26While by their count U.S. tariffs could threaten 500,000 jobs, that's not their only fear.

00:31What concerns them even more is a deal that averts tariffs but privileges companies, leaving

00:36workers worse off than before.

00:38They say the President and Premier held more than 20 meetings with business leaders in the

00:42month after Trump announced tariffs.

00:44But even now in mid-June, they have yet to meet once with workers to hear their concerns.

00:48They also fear the number of workers at risk of losing their jobs, even with a deal, could

01:07be greater than they've estimated.

01:09And they say they don't know how the government plans to look after the people who lose out

01:13under an agreement with the U.S.

01:16I want to thank the President and Secretary for this.

01:16Thank you for your part.

01:17I thank you.

01:18I want to thank you so much for the government of the makers to be able to work.

01:19How many of the regulators and workers who have a big impact, cùng-time investment who set up

01:21in the U.S.

01:22The Labor Ministry says it is too early to comment, and that existing labor laws will

01:51protect workers' rights.

01:53The unions, though, don't seem to agree.

01:55They say other countries, like Japan, have done much more to ensure their workers' welfare

01:59as they hold tariff talks of their own with Trump's government.

02:02The labor unions represented here say their alliance is not a publicity stunt.

02:07If the government doesn't listen to them, they say it can expect to see them massed

02:10in the streets.

02:12Ryan Wu and John Van Trieste in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.

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