PT DI employees go on strike, production halted<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
More than 9,000 workers of the only state-owned aircraft firm,
\nPT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI), went on strike on Tuesday,
\nprotesting the management's sluggishness in eradicating
\ncorruption, collusion and nepotistic practices in the company.<\/p>\n
The employees' action coincided with the arrival of Minister
\nof Defense Matori Abdul Jalil, who witnessed the handover of two
\nBO-105 helicopters from PT DI to the Indonesian Navy, represented
\nby Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Indroko Sastrowiyono.<\/p>\n
All activities were halted for hours at the company, founded
\nby former president B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
The workers coordinated by the Employees' Communication Forum,
\ndemanded that the management make real and concrete steps to
\nfight corruption.<\/p>\n
Last June, employees went on strike demanding a better salary,
\nmore allowances and the eradication of corruption, collusion and
\nnepotistic practices in the company.<\/p>\n
During the two-day strike, the employees also asked the
\ncompany to return a total of Rp 35 billion to them. They said the
\nmoney, collected from their monthly salaries, had been used to
\nfinance the activities of the company's housewives' organization.<\/p>\n
The employees also accused the company of being incompetent as
\nit had suffered some Rp 200 billion in losses last year.<\/p>\n
The management agreed to meet the demands of the employees and
\nmake several administrative steps.<\/p>\n
The company's marketing director, Ilham Habibie, the eldest
\nson of BJ Habibie, resigned.<\/p>\n
"That's not enough. We are not satisfied with the management's
\nactions. The management has frozen several corruption cases,"
\nsaid Arif, citing the Rp 2.5 billion insurance money that had
\naffected PT Indonesia North America, a U.S. subsidiary of PT
\nDirgantara Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"The company has done little to improve its financial
\nefficiency, as the mark ups involved in purchasing aircraft parts
\nhad yet to be dealt with properly."<\/p>\n
"The purchase of landing lights was irrational. Each landing
\nlight actually costs US$3,162, but the company bought them for
\n$9,100 each. The markup was more than 200 percent," said Arif.<\/p>\n
The management was reluctant to respond to the demonstration
\nheld by employees.<\/p>\n
Arif said that the employees would march to the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) in Jakarta on Wednesday to convey their
\ndemands.<\/p>\n
"Around 5,000 employees will take part. We will travel there
\nin at least 80 buses."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pt-di-employees-go-on-strike-production-halted-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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