CTBC Business School drops all lawsuits against union, marking milestone for labor rights in higher education
The Higher Education Union (HEU) announced on Wednesday that CTBC Business School has fully withdrawn all civil, criminal, and administrative lawsuits against the union. The legal battle, which began in June 2024 over a union statement criticizing the school's parent group, ended with the school's defeat in civil court in December 2025. The union calls this a milestone for labor rights but continues to demand a public apology and policy review.
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- 📰 Published: June 5, 2026 at 14:17
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(Central News Agency, Taipei, May 5) The Higher Education Union (HEU) held a press conference on Wednesday, announcing that CTBC Business School has "fully withdrawn" all civil and criminal "reputation restoration" lawsuits against the union, as well as an administrative lawsuit against the Ministry of Labor, marking a significant milestone for labor rights in higher education.
According to information provided by the HEU, in June 2024, CTBC Business School, dissatisfied with a union statement that mentioned the CTBC Group forcing out teachers from Hsing Kuo University of Management, filed a "reputation restoration" lawsuit in court. The criminal case was immediately dismissed by the court. The civil lawsuit was decided in December 2025 by the Tainan District Court, which ruled against CTBC Business School and dismissed its claim for compensation from the union.
In January of this year, the HEU protested at the CTBC Financial Park in Taipei, demanding an apology from the CTBC Group and that the civil lawsuit not be appealed, leading to a standoff with police.
Furthermore, the union, dissatisfied with the school's use of litigation to suppress it, filed an application for an unfair labor practice ruling with the Ministry of Labor. The Ministry's裁决委員会 (arbitration committee) successfully determined that the school's actions constituted a violation of Article 35, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 5 of the Labor Union Act, which prohibits "unfairly influencing, hindering, or restricting the establishment, organization, or activities of a labor union." CTBC Business School subsequently filed an administrative lawsuit with the Executive Yuan, hoping to overturn this labor ruling.
Chen Chih-hsuan, Director of the HEU Office, stated that CTBC Business School has fully withdrawn its appeals. "Although this legal battle has come to an end, the war to defend the public nature of higher education in Taiwan has never stopped," he said.
The HEU continues to call on the CTBC Group to issue a public apology to the teachers and students who were forced out. It also urges the Ministry of Education to stop using CTBC Business School as a model for "successful private school transformation" and to review the chaos caused by the privatization of higher education. The union demands that the Ministry of Labor immediately impose fines in accordance with Article 45 of the Labor Union Act to maintain the credibility of the unfair labor practice ruling. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) June 5, 2026
According to information provided by the HEU, in June 2024, CTBC Business School, dissatisfied with a union statement that mentioned the CTBC Group forcing out teachers from Hsing Kuo University of Management, filed a "reputation restoration" lawsuit in court. The criminal case was immediately dismissed by the court. The civil lawsuit was decided in December 2025 by the Tainan District Court, which ruled against CTBC Business School and dismissed its claim for compensation from the union.
In January of this year, the HEU protested at the CTBC Financial Park in Taipei, demanding an apology from the CTBC Group and that the civil lawsuit not be appealed, leading to a standoff with police.
Furthermore, the union, dissatisfied with the school's use of litigation to suppress it, filed an application for an unfair labor practice ruling with the Ministry of Labor. The Ministry's裁决委員会 (arbitration committee) successfully determined that the school's actions constituted a violation of Article 35, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 5 of the Labor Union Act, which prohibits "unfairly influencing, hindering, or restricting the establishment, organization, or activities of a labor union." CTBC Business School subsequently filed an administrative lawsuit with the Executive Yuan, hoping to overturn this labor ruling.
Chen Chih-hsuan, Director of the HEU Office, stated that CTBC Business School has fully withdrawn its appeals. "Although this legal battle has come to an end, the war to defend the public nature of higher education in Taiwan has never stopped," he said.
The HEU continues to call on the CTBC Group to issue a public apology to the teachers and students who were forced out. It also urges the Ministry of Education to stop using CTBC Business School as a model for "successful private school transformation" and to review the chaos caused by the privatization of higher education. The union demands that the Ministry of Labor immediately impose fines in accordance with Article 45 of the Labor Union Act to maintain the credibility of the unfair labor practice ruling. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) June 5, 2026