How the changing relationship between labour and political party influenced growth of autonomous labour unions in Taiwan
| Published date | 03 June 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-06-2018-0160 |
| Date | 03 June 2019 |
| Pages | 758-772 |
| Author | Santanu Sarkar,Meichun Liu |
| Subject Matter | Hr & organizational behaviour,Industrial/labour relations,Employment law |
How the changing relationship
between labour and political party
influenced growth of autonomous
labour unions in Taiwan
Santanu Sarkar
Department of HRM, XLRI –Xavier School of Management,
Jamshedpur, India, and
Meichun Liu
Institute of Labour Studies, National Chengchi University, Taipei City, Taiwan
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to find how the changing relationship between labour and political
parties influenced the growth of reasonably independent labour unions in Taiwan.
Design/methodology/approach –The authors have drawn on data collected through in-depth interviews
of union officials, labour activists and members of legislature from two major political parties in Taiwan.
Findings –The authors found that the breach between labour and political parties was affected by the
eventualities contemplated in democratisation. Though the DPP (Minchin-tang/Democratic Progressive
Party) provided the initial “shot in arm”, autonomous unions have not necessarily grown underneath DPP’s
dominion. Political liberalisation of Taiwan’s industrial relations systems has gained more momentum when
the DPP was in opposition than in power. Anti-incumbency pushed independent unions to sway the
opposition’s backing when Kuomintang (KMT/the Chinese Nationalists) was in power and not to that extent
when the KMT stepped down. The autonomous labour movement in Taiwan was initially influenced by the
changing relationship between labour and ruling parties. However, the movement was subsequently shaped
by the ethnic and political characteristics based on the historical divide between the mainlanders and
Taiwanese and Taiwan’s changing economic landscape.
Research limitations/implications –Specific limitations include the subjectivity of the inference and lack
of generalisability of the findings that are based on interviews with two out of three players of industrial
relations system.
Practical implications –Because of globalisation and global financial crisis that brought together a new
generation of workforce who hold individualistic values, have lesser faith in collectivism and perform new forms of
work where unionisation is no more relevant, the autonomous labour movement in Taiwan was hugely impacted.
Originality/value –Growth of independent unions is not being shaped by democratisation alone. If we
refocus the debate about democracy’s implied relationship with the rhetoric of national identity, one can see
the crucial role played by the changing economic landscape and ethnic divisions ingrained in politicalorigins.
Keywords Taiwan, Autonomous labour movement, Industrial relation systems
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The rise of independent (or autonomous) unions has become a global phenomenon. Though
there are many countries with a history of close ties between labour organisations and
political parties, we are seeing an increased “distancing”as unions try to delink andpursue more
autonomous strategies[1] excepting the communist states like China (Liu, 2010)
and Cuba (Alexander, 2002), where the labour movement is still a part of the ruling party.
This close tie between ruling parties and labour unions has also tended to linger in countries that
have turned from long authoritarian rule to democracy. After Korea turned democratic, the
Federation of Korean Trade Unions continued to enjoy a close relationship with the ruling party
(Kang, 2009), whereas the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is more independent.
Employee Relations: The
International Journal
Vol. 41 No. 4, 2019
pp. 758-772
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0142-5455
DOI 10.1108/ER-06-2018-0160
Received 7 June 2018
Revised 23 November 2018
25 December 2018
Accepted 21 January 2019
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0142-5455.htm
“Independent union”and “autonomous union”have been used interchangeably.
758
ER
41,4
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