Garment workers seek council's support<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): At least 250 employees of sock manufacturer PT
\nNagamas Busana Tama went to the City Council on Tuesday seeking
\nsupport for their union, which has not been recognized by the
\ncompany's management.<\/p>\n
Wearing black shirts and headbands, the workers arrived in
\nfour buses and unfurled posters denouncing the company's
\nmanagement.<\/p>\n
The union's secretary, Juariah, said the Independent Workers
\nUnion (SPM) was established on Nov. 5 but had not been recognized
\nby the firm, which operates on Jl. Kamal Muara in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The firm even established a rival union last month instead of
\nrecognizing us,\" Juariah said.<\/p>\n
She said the new union, affiliated with the All-Indonesia
\nWorkers Union, was chaired by Sugeng Simamora, a commissioner of
\nthe firm.<\/p>\n
She also claimed the firm's management filed a police
\ncomplaint against her and SPM chairman Maulana in a bid to
\nsuppress SPM.<\/p>\n
Juariah also maintained that at least 85 percent of the firm's
\ntotal 550 employees were members of SPM, which is affiliated with
\nthe Indonesian Metal Workers Union.<\/p>\n
In a campaign to win recognition for SPM, the employees have
\nbeen on strike since Feb. 26.<\/p>\n
The strikers also are demanding that the raises they received
\nbe made retroactive to January. The government raised the monthly
\nminimum wage to Rp 426,000 effective as of the beginning of this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Juariah said workers only received the raise in February, and
\nwere paid the old minimum wage of Rp 344,000 in January.<\/p>\n
The chairman of City Council Commission E for social welfare,
\nEdy Suchro, who met with representatives of the workers,
\ncontacted members of the firm's management.<\/p>\n
In a telephone conversation, Simamora told Edy the firm
\nrefused to recognize SPM because it was affiliated with a metal
\nworkers union, which was not suitable for a garment firm.<\/p>\n
Simamora said management was willing to meet with the strikers
\nto discuss their demand that their raise be made retroactive to
\nJanuary.<\/p>\n
Representatives of SPM responded by saying its affiliation
\nwith the metal workers union did not interfere with SPM's
\nactivities. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/garment-workers-seek-councils-support-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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