Shangri-La workers to sue managers for blocking union<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Striking workers from the Shangri-La Hotel are
\nconsidering filing a lawsuit against the hotel's management for
\nignoring their rights of association, the workers' lawyer Surya
\nTjandra said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Surya, the vice director of the Jakarta Legal Institute (LBH),
\ntold The Jakarta Post there was ample evidence that the
\nmanagement had prevented the workers from establishing an
\nindependent trade union (SPSM), including suspension of the
\nunion's leader, Halilintar Nurdin.<\/p>\n
The lawyer said many workers, who had been on strike since
\nDec. 22, were offered reemployment in exchange for their
\nseparation from the labor union. The hotel have dismissed 420
\nSPMS members due to their participation in the strike.<\/p>\n
According to Surya, the management could be charged with
\nviolating Article 28 of the Worker Union Law No. 21\/2000, which
\ncarries a jail term of between one and five years, and a fine of
\nbetween Rp 100 million (US$10,526) and Rp 500 million.<\/p>\n
The article also stipulates that failure to pay workers'
\nsalaries, the use of intimidation, and campaigning against a
\nlabor union could be categorized as violations.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, SPMS spokesman Budi Susanto said the workers'
\nunion, hotel management and officials from the Ministry of
\nManpower would meet with the House of Representatives' Commission
\nVII for population and welfare affairs on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the House can support our demand as they had earlier
\npromised to us,\" Budi said on Monday.<\/p>\n
He said that the union demanded the management reemploy all of
\nthe dismissed SPMS members.<\/p>\n
The hotel's management had earlier offered dismissals with
\ncompensation, ranging from one and a half to four times the basic
\nsalary of each worker.<\/p>\n
The lowest-ranked worker, such as a dish washer, was paid Rp
\n280,000 a month, below the official minimum monthly wage of Rp.
\n350,000.<\/p>\n
Budi said the hotel's management always claimed that the
\nworkers were well paid because their wages also included service
\ncharges.<\/p>\n
\"The service charge should not be included in the salary
\nbecause its our money,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of striking SPMS members were removed from the hotel
\nto the Jakarta Police precinct on Dec. 26. They demanded a
\npension plan and equal distribution of the service charges.<\/p>\n
The hotel has suspended operations since the strike.<\/p>\n
The union claimed to have registered 900 workers from a total
\nof 1,200 Shangri-La employees.<\/p>\n
The union affiliates itself to the International Union of
\nFood, Hotels and Restaurants (IUF).<\/p>\n
Lawyer Surya said the IUF promised to pressure the owner of
\nthe Shangri-La Hotel chain, Malaysian businessman Robert Kuok, to
\nfulfill the workers' demand.<\/p>\n
He said the IUF has donated Rp 20 million as an expression of
\nsolidarity with the striking workers.<\/p>\n
The international union's headquarter in Sydney Australia has
\nsent letters to President Abdurrahman Wahid and Minister of
\nManpower and Transmigration Alhilal Hamdi to assist the workers.
\n(jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/shangri-la-workers-to-sue-managers-for-blocking-union-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}