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[Aristotle]

From what I understand the FTA was the for runner to the current ETA or English Teachers Association of the Republic of China.

[ScottSommers]

Are you sure you know what you are talking about?

The ETA was originally started by local teachers. My understanding is that the proceedings of their first conference in 1993 were published only in Chinese. The executive board of the ETA currently has only one foreign member (Joanna Katchen who is a full professor in the English Department of Tsing Hwa University). Until recently, the ETA Website was available only in Chinese. There has NEVER been a time in the history of the ETA where most of its members were foreign teachers.

You stated as as evidence about the conduct of universities in Taiwan detailed information about an organization that you named. It now appears that this information is not based in fact.

You have prefaced your answer to my question with the statement, "From what I understand...". I think it is about time you either provide proper evidence as answers to my questions or I will not be answering your postings in the future.

[Aristotle]

I usually don't dig up things this far in the past but if you insist here goes.
1997. The case involved Wego Private school in Pei tou and several of it's teachers. When the national health insurance was first put into place it was determined that everyone employed in Taiwan would have to participate. Wego school had at the time and to the best of my knowledge still does employ a large number of foreign teachers. Their employment at that time was in direct violation of the law. Having as much influence as they have, they were still able to get their teachers ARC's using fraudulent means through a non existent bushi ban.
The way it was explained to me was that one of the directors of Wego was concerned that the illegal foreign teachers would have a motor cycle accident and not be insured under NHIC, making the school accountable. They exploited a loop hole in the law allowing for the school to offer a private health insurance plan that was offered through the ETA. When I contacted the ETA they denied that they had assisted in the matter and instead insisted that the Foreign Teacher Association had made the private insurance offer. On the papers however it clearly stated that the insurance was only offered to members of the English Teachers Association.
All the foreign teachers of Wego private school were given membership in the ETA to facilitate this illegal and fraudulent practice. When one of the teachers had an accident and filed a claim through a lawyer they were fired, their house was broken into, they were harassed, threatened with bodily harm and their vehicles were stolen all within three weeks of filing a claim and subsequent law suit. They were then unofficially deported and the lawyer dropped the case as no money was changing hands.
I too have never heard of the Foreign Teacher Association but when the English Teacher's Association was contacted inquiring about private health insurance they denied involvement claiming this other organization was responsible contrary to the existence of ample amounts of documents and statements stating the ETA were and are involved in this illicit practice. There is some other vague reference to such an organization going back into the late 70's and early 80's.
Not only would many of the items on your wish list not make the MOE very happy you would most probably end up out of a job and barred from working in Taiwan. If you attempt to openly start some sort of Foriegn teacher's union you will be arrested and deported.