published in 2009

50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Tatung Union

The Tatung Company Relations Enterprise Union was founded in 1959. It was named “Taipei Datong Steel Machinery Company Limited Union” (aka. Tatung Union). It was renamed itself in 1968 as “Taipei Datong Company Limited”. After the implementation of the new Labor Union Act in 2011, it was rectified again the name " Tatung (Group) Company Limited Union”.

Tatung Union started with 640 members and the range of coverage includes Tatung Company and its subsidiary. In the beginning, the union was purely in line with the government's policy and it was supported by the company. The members of the union did not fully understand the nature and missions of the union. However, after the lift of Martial Law, the union keeps improving the operation of union affairs and has established institutions to make the union sound by the enthusiastic efforts of union cadres and the members of the union since 1989. The highest number of union members was more than 10,000 members. Independent is the most valuable assets of the union. Union cadres should continue to pass on the value by means of their perseverance and proper attitude. The yellow union is a nominal union which is dominated by an employer and do not have practical functions. Tatung union had been a yellow union in 30 years. After removing the Martial Law, Tatung union has been a practical union and survived in 20 years by a long period struggling of union cadres.

From nominal to the practical union, workers in private enterprises, they stick to the road of independent unions, thereby facing a tremendous pressure. However, as long as unions are brave enough to support each other, believe their own efforts and turn the cumulative experience into a culture, it can continuously shape the history of struggling independent union.