Factory workers want union leaders reinstated<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Workers of a cable factory in the Pulogadung
\nindustrial complex, East Jakarta, are demanding the reinstatement
\nof 11 union leaders which they say were fired by the management.<\/p>\n
They told city councilors yesterday that the management of PT
\nIndo Tri Jaya Industries in East Jakarta plans to fire other
\nworkers after dismissing the 11 leaders on May 9 and four other
\nworkers as of Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The private company employs 512 workers, mostly on a daily
\nbasis. Some have been employed by the company for 20 years.<\/p>\n
The reason the management gave for the dismissals prompted
\nother workers to go on strike for the past two weeks, workers
\nsaid over the weekend.<\/p>\n
The head of the City Council's Commission E for social
\nwelfare, Atje Mulyadi, said the commission regrets that its
\nefforts to solve the problem by inviting the management has not
\nreceived adequate response.<\/p>\n
He read a letter of apology from the company director, D.
\nRangkuti, who said the management cannot meet the commission, but
\nthat it is trying to solve its \"internal problem\" with the city
\noffice of the Ministry of Manpower.<\/p>\n
\"But it turns out this internal problem has been settled by
\nfiring 11 union leaders. I don't think that's the solution,\" Atje
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"This is an insult to the council as the invitation to the
\nmanagement was signed by the City Council Speaker M.H. Ritonga,\"
\nAtje said.<\/p>\n
Another councilor revealed the management has also not
\nresponded to invitations by the city office of the Ministry of
\nManpower.<\/p>\n
Workers said that in the absence of their union leaders who
\nwere negotiating better work conditions with the management, they
\nhad no option but to strike.<\/p>\n
\"We also know there is a pile of dismissal letters to be
\nissued,\" said Achmad Riadi, a spokesman of the 50-person
\ndelegation which met with the councilors.<\/p>\n
The union, led by Sanggem, were negotiating better pay and
\nallowances with the management. Daily wages of a worker with 20
\nyears of service, for instance, is Rp 11,000 (US$ 4.68) with
\nallowances covering only a transportation allowance of Rp 600 and
\na meal allowance of Rp 800. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/factory-workers-want-union-leaders-reinstated-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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