Labor unions pledge support for Garuda strike plan<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat and Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Condemning Garuda Indonesia management's move to close the
\noffices of the Association of Garuda Flight Attendants (Ikagi),
\nlabor unions threw their full support behind the employees'
\nplanned strike this weekend.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Confederation of All-Indonesian Workers
\nUnions (KSPSI), Jacob Nuwa Wea, said on Wednesday that the strike
\nwas the last resort to make the national flag carrier respect the
\nflight attendants' basic rights and put an end to discrimination
\nin the workplace.<\/p>\n
\"The flight attendants have no other alternative except to go
\non strike as the efforts to settle the dispute through bipartite
\nand tripartite forums have ended in deadlock. Besides, workers
\nare allowed to strike under the manpower legislation,\" said Nuwa
\nWea, who is also a former manpower minister.<\/p>\n
He expressed concern about the forcible closure of the Ikagi offices,
\nwhich he said was a violation of the freedom to organize as
\nguaranteed under ILO Convention No. 87, the 1945 Constitution and
\nthe Labor Unions Law.<\/p>\n
\"This unilateral act could be counterproductive and jeopardize
\nthe company's image both at home and overseas.\" Nuwa Wea said.<\/p>\n
The flight attendants have been demanding pay increases based
\non their skills, performance and work experience -- something
\nthat Garuda pilots have already received. A flight attendant who
\nhas been working for 12 years, for example, receives only Rp 2
\nmillion per month.<\/p>\n
Garuda conceded the pilots demands after they threatened to go
\non strike.<\/p>\n
Garuda management has prepared a contingency plan involving
\nthe recruiting of flight attendants from other companies in order
\nto maintain its services during the strike.<\/p>\n
Separately, the chairman of the Confederation of Indonesian
\nProsperous Labor Unions (KSBSI), Rekson Silaban, said the
\ntransportation union would show its solidarity with the flight
\nattendants.<\/p>\n
\"The attendants are demanding their rights under the law. They
\nwill have the support of employees from other airlines and the
\nunions.\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nuwa Wea and Rekson suggested that the government heed the
\nflight attendants demands.<\/p>\n
Nuwa Wea, who helped settle the dispute between Garuda and the
\npilots, said the management was turning a blind eye to the
\nconditions in which the attendants had to work, which had
\nworsened since the financial crisis of 1998.<\/p>\n
Dozens of Garuda flight attendants submitted a complaint to
\nthe police in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, about the forced closure
\nof their offices. Dozens of others made final preparations for
\nthe strike at the union's new offices in Pamulang, Tangerang.<\/p>\n
\"The necessary preparations are almost completed. We now have no
\nother choice but to walk off the job as there is no sign that
\nmanagement will meet our demands,\" Ikagi chairman Zainuddin Malik
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Ikagi also reported the Garuda management to the police at
\nSoekarno-Hatta International Airport on Wednesday for alleged
\nintimidation against protesting workers.<\/p>\n
Aryo Budi Santoso, Ikagi secretary-general, said Garuda
\nofficials had put up notices and sent text messages to employees
\nwarning them not to strike.<\/p>\n
The notices, according to Aryo, asks those who will not
\nparticipate in the Aug. 12 -- Aug. 14 strike to contact Garuda's
\noperations director Ari Safari by Aug. 10 at the latest. In the
\ntext messages, the management warned that employees who
\nparticipated in the strike would be punished.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/labor-unions-pledge-support-for-garuda-strike-plan-1447893297",
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