Greater Jakarta workers set up new labor group<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Employees of 100 companies operating in Jakarta
\nand its surrounding areas established on Sunday a new union
\ncalled Serikat Buruh Jabotabek (Greater Jakarta Labor
\nOrganization) in a bid to improve their bargaining position.<\/p>\n
The new organization was announced at the end of a two-day
\ncongress attended by about 200 employees of the 100 companies.<\/p>\n
Rahman, the congress' organizing committee chairman, said
\nSunday that the meeting elected Sutiyono, a worker from
\nTangerang, to chair the new organization, which is intended to
\nhelp defend workers' economic and political interests against
\nboth the government and employers.<\/p>\n
\"We will focus on the improvement of the workers' bargaining
\nposition,\" Rahman said, claiming that the new organization could
\ninclude about 10,000 people.<\/p>\n
He said the members could be either workers and former
\nworkers, who were involved in a series of activities and
\ndemonstrations critical of the government.<\/p>\n
They were mostly those who used to be supervised by non-
\ngovernmental organizations specializing on labor issues, such as
\nthe Akatiga foundation, the Daya Darma Institute and the Bakti
\nPertiwi foundation, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We have set up a new workers organization because thus far we
\nhave not been included in the existing formal organizations,\"
\nRahman, a former textile company worker, said.<\/p>\n
He said the new organization's members were affiliated to
\nneither the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI) led by
\nMuchtar Pakpahan nor the government-backed All-Indonesia Workers
\nUnion (SPSI).<\/p>\n
He said the organization's membership was based on the
\nlocation of their respective companies, not the type of jobs nor
\nthe firms products, as was the case in other worker unions.<\/p>\n
Most of the congress participants were workers' leaders.
\nSinto, a worker from cable producer PT Sucaco in Tangerang, said
\nthat he and his friends were still discussing with their company
\nthe provision of severance payments.<\/p>\n
He said his company planned to dismiss about 400 workers out
\nof its 1,200 work force because of the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
The dismissed workers staged a demonstration last month to
\nreject the severance payment offered by the company because it
\nwas too low, he said.<\/p>\n
Another employee, Rina, from plastic producer PT Alform in
\nTangerang also led her colleagues in a demonstration last month.<\/p>\n
\"But the company only fulfilled some of our demands, including
\nan increase in welfare allowances,\" she said.<\/p>\n
A worker at Nike shoe producer PT NASA in Pasar Kemis,
\nTangerang, said his company was planning to dismiss 700 out of
\nits 10,000 workers.<\/p>\n
\"We are still discussing the severance payment as well,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The participants were entertained on Saturday by singer Leo
\nKristi, who sang the Hands of Sun, Labor Song, which was written
\nspecially by poet Afrizal Malna.<\/p>\n
Afrizal also attended the congress at the Wisma Samadhi guest
\nhouse in East Jakarta on Saturday. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/greater-jakarta-workers-set-up-new-labor-group-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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