Taoyuan:Workers at Kuai Kuai Co.'s sole production facility in Taiwan have voted to prolong their strike indefinitely. This decision follows a one-day strike prompted by unresolved issues regarding the plant's relocation and associated labor arrangements.

According to Focus Taiwan, around 130 members of the Kuai Kuai union from the Zhongli factory initiated the strike at 5 a.m. on Friday, after an announcement shortly after midnight. The union's extraordinary meeting, held after the one-day action, resulted in a near-unanimous vote to extend the strike.

The union has called for immediate negotiations with Kuai Kuai and the San-Ti Group, the company's owner since 2019. Initially described as a "warning strike," the action was a response to learning from news reports in July about the sale of the Zhongli site to Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (ASE). Efforts by the union to engage in talks and mediate through the local government have so far failed to reach an agreement.

The union has accused management of lacking substantive negotiation efforts and disputes claims that most issues have been resolved. Key disagreements include arrangements for workers during the two-year transition period and post-relocation.

Kuai Kuai's spokesperson, Chan Yi-kuo, expressed regret over the strike but acknowledged employees' rights to industrial action. While some agreements have been reached, discussions continue regarding employee arrangements during the transition. Chan emphasized the company's openness to continued negotiations with the union.

The Ministry of Labor supports the union's right to strike and insists on no adverse treatment for participating workers. Despite two unsuccessful mediation sessions and multiple talks, critical demands remain unresolved. The ministry urges the company to engage sincerely in negotiations.

Kuai Kuai is renowned in Taiwan for its popular snacks, including the butter-coconut-flavored puffed corn snacks, which are a staple in the tech sector due to a cultural belief in their ability to ensure smooth machinery operation.