Boycott call makes no difference: Bank management<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): HongkongBank management said a call from a
\nnational union for a boycott against the Bank would have no
\nimpact on its business.<\/p>\n
The Federation of the All Indonesian Workers Union (FSPSI)
\nlast week called for a boycott after a court ruling allowed
\nHongkongBank to dismiss the Bank's 11 union executives. The
\nruling was issued by the Ministry of Manpower's arbitration body.<\/p>\n
Eric W. Gill, the new chief executive officer of the Bank's
\nJakarta office, said yesterday he could not comment much on why
\nthe boycott appeal was considered harmless.<\/p>\n
This is the union's first call for a boycott.<\/p>\n
Speaking after introducing the Bank's first credit card, the
\nHongkongBank Visa International, Gill said most of the Bank's
\ncustomers in the corporate sector had been clients for eight to
\n10 years, and that the Bank had operated here for \"a very long
\ntime.\"<\/p>\n
HongkongBank, or the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd.,
\nstarted operating here in 1884.<\/p>\n
In response to suggestions the appeal was harmless because the
\nFSPSI lacked clout, he said, \"I can only say that we operate
\nwithin Indonesian law\".<\/p>\n
Union chairman Bomer Pasaribu has said the boycott appeal was
\nthe last resort because the management showed \"no intention\" of
\nimplementing the arbitration body's order to reinstate 189
\nemployees.<\/p>\n
Strike<\/p>\n
The arbitration body turned down the management's request to
\ndismiss the employees following a strike in April, in which
\nemployees accused the management of stalling negotiations in
\ncollective bargaining negotiations.<\/p>\n
The management has appealed to the Jakarta Administrative High
\nCourt.<\/p>\n
Lela Djafaar, the Bank's public relations officer, said about
\n70 employees were still waiting to be reinstated. Many had taken
\nup early retirement offers or have found work elsewhere, he said.<\/p>\n
The Union's call for a boycott followed an announcement of a
\nworld wide solidarity campaign from the Asian and Pacific
\nregional organization of the International Federation of
\nCommercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees. Bomer
\nalso chairs the Union's banking and commercial sector.<\/p>\n
Gill said his replacement of Philip CL Holberton six weeks ago
\nhad nothing to do with the problems. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/boycott-call-makes-no-difference-bank-management-1447893297",
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