Seafarers union elects new leader<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The three-day extraordinary congress of the
\nIndonesian Seamen's Association (KPI) concluded on Monday with
\nthe election of Hanafie as its new chairman for the 2001-2004
\nterm, to replace Iskandar Illahude, whose leadership sparked
\nprotests among members of the International Transportation
\nFederation (ITF).<\/p>\n
Besides electing the union's other 16 new functionaries, the
\ncongress also reviewed its statute and designed new programs, in
\nparticular, training schemes to improve Indonesian seafarers'
\nskills.<\/p>\n
The union's amended statute asserts that KPI is a categorical
\ntrade union under the All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation
\n(FSPSI) and the term of the new executive board has been cut
\nshort from five years to three years, Matias Tambing, the elect
\nsecretary general, said<\/p>\n
\"From now on, KPI will enhance cooperation with FSPSI in
\nconducting its programs,\" he said in the congress's closing
\nceremony.<\/p>\n
Hanafie, elect chairman, said the new executive board would
\nregroup to lead KPI to become an independent union.<\/p>\n
\"Besides establishing KPI units in all provinces, as well as
\noverseas, we are preparing training schemes in cooperation with
\nforeign partner unions and ITF to improve the quality of our
\nseafarers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Shigeru Wada, secretary of ITF for the Asia-Pacific region,
\npraised the democratic proceedings and pledged better cooperation
\nwith KPI in the future.<\/p>\n
\"The congress progressed democratically. There was no money
\npolitics nor intervention from outside. The congress is far more
\ndemocratic than previous congresses in Medan, North Sumatra, and
\nMalino, South Sulawesi,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Shigeru said ITF was ready to forge cooperation with KPI to
\nimprove the quality of Indonesian seafarers and provide
\nprotection for those who were employed by international shipping
\ncompanies.<\/p>\n
\"With the democratic congress and its new genuine
\nfunctionaries, KPI is expected to grow as an independent union
\nwith its sole mission of improving its members' social welfare,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
ITF has previously threatened to suspend KPI's associate
\nmembership in the international labor union and rejected
\nproviding protection for some 32,000 Indonesian seafarers working
\nin foreign shipping companies unless the local union holds a
\ncongress to elect new and independent activists.<\/p>\n
The previous executive board had sparked criticism since
\nIskandar took charge in 1998. He is also the director of
\nclassification at the Ministry of Transportation and
\nTelecommunication. Many have accused him of misusing the union to
\nfunction as a recruitment agency. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/seafarers-union-elects-new-leader-1447893297",
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