Bus crew workers put brakes on call for strike<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Public transportation crews rejected on Monday a
\ncall for a mass strike aimed at pushing the city administration
\nto agree to a hike in bus fares.<\/p>\n
Members of the crews, speaking on the condition of anonymity,
\nsaid that a strike was not a solution to the problem and would
\nultimately hurt their earnings.<\/p>\n
\"Such a call for a mass strike will, as usual, only benefit
\nmembers of the board of management of the association of public
\ntransportation operators,\" said a driver of a Kopaja minibus
\nplying the Manggarai and Blok M area in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He vowed to reject calls to join the strike, including if
\nthere was an instruction from the Kopaja management. Kopaja is a
\ncooperative of minibus owners in the city.<\/p>\n
\"I would only join them if they (the cooperative) threaten me
\nor pay me compensation for my losses for one day of joining the
\nstrike.\"<\/p>\n
In the past, he said, those who refused to participate in a
\nwork stoppage were intimidated and their vehicles vandalized by
\nstrikers.<\/p>\n
A driver's assistant said that going on strike would only
\ncause him personal losses.<\/p>\n
\"I once joined a strike... What I got in return was that I
\nlost my income for the day,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Now I will only join such a strike if its goal is purely for
\nthe welfare of the crews.\"<\/p>\n
A group of bus owners, drivers and conductors made the call
\nfor a strike during a visit to City Hall last week. They argue
\nthat a fare hike is needed to cover the sharply cost of spare
\nparts.<\/p>\n
The city administration previously proposed a Rp 200 increase
\nfor minibuses and regular, express (Patas) buses, minibuses and
\nair-conditioned Patas buses. However, it insisted the fare hike
\ncould only take effect after the General Session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) in November.<\/p>\n
Bus drivers and owners contend the increase must be
\nimplemented soon.<\/p>\n
Owners of minibuses also rejected the call to go on strike.<\/p>\n
An owner of six Kopaja minibuses said the city administration
\nshould provide a subsidy for vehicle owners to purchase spare
\nparts.<\/p>\n
\"Almost all bus owners now practice 'cannibalism', exchanging
\nspare parts among their vehicles, just to keep their business
\nrunning,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Another minibus owner said the practices were so common that
\nan engine serial number sometimes did not match what was written
\non the license.<\/p>\n
Johannes Damanik, operational director of the Metro mini
\nminibus firm, said the plan to conduct a mass strike would be
\ndecided after bus operators met the City Council on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"We'll hold the strike this week if the City Council's
\nresponse is unsatisfactory,\" Damanik told The Jakarta Post on
\nMonday after a meeting of executives from at least 14 bus firms.<\/p>\n
Executives from bus firms, including Kopaja, Himpurna, ARH,
\nMayasari Bhakti and Koantas Bima, are also expected to attend
\nTuesday's hearing, he said. (ind\/jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bus-crew-workers-put-brakes-on-call-for-strike-1447893297",
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