Striking Shangri-La workers resign<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The management of Shangri-La Hotel announced on
\nWednesday that 303 of its striking employees had resigned to pave
\nthe way for an end to a long-running labor dispute.<\/p>\n
The resigning workers include executives of the labor union
\nthat prompted a strike over improvement in welfare in December
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Shangri-La senior manager Wastu Widanto said the resignations
\nindicated that the two parties were making progress in solving
\nthe dispute. He added that the resigning employees admitted that
\nthey hadn't wanted to join the strike in the first place.<\/p>\n
"They told us that they were happy to put the matter behind
\nthem and that the campaign, raised by a few union leaders,
\nagainst the management was wrong," he told reporters.<\/p>\n
"The company is expecting more of the striking employees to
\ntender their resignation in the coming days. It's better for them
\nthan awaiting dismissal."<\/p>\n
The row is being tackled by the government-sanctioned Central
\nCommittee for the Settlement of Labor Disputes.<\/p>\n
Wastu claimed that the mass resignation, involving more than
\n60 percent of 579 striking employees, started in February and is
\nbeing handled by a special committee.<\/p>\n
He added that some of the employees had talked with the
\nhotel's owner, PT Swadharma Kerry Satya, on an individual basis
\nin seeking a solution.<\/p>\n
Contrary to the management statement, chairman of the hotel's
\nindependent labor union, Halilintar Nurdin, said that the
\nresigning employees were lured to quit and offered separation pay
\nworth twice their monthly salary, depending upon the length of
\ntheir working period, plus Rp 1 million bonus each.<\/p>\n
He said three of the union's executives were assigned by the
\nmanagement to encourage other employees to resign.<\/p>\n
"The three, Budi Susanto, Wawan Rusmana and Deny Setiadi, were
\npromised "commission" for each worker they can tempt to quit.
\nI've just dismissed them (from the union)," Nurdin told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said there are only around 250 employees who have resigned.<\/p>\n
"The management is lying about the numbers," he added.<\/p>\n
Nurdin said a dismissed employee will receive separation pay
\namounting to the same as a resigning worker.<\/p>\n
"None of us will follow the call for resignation. This is just
\nan attempt to keep us from the hotel since it will accommodate
\nparticipants of the G-15 summit in May," he added.<\/p>\n
Leaders of 15 developing nations are scheduled to meet here to
\nenhance cooperation next month.<\/p>\n
The labor dispute centers on the employees' demand for a
\nsalary hike and equal sharing of the hotel's service charges and
\npension fund.<\/p>\n
Workers occupied the hotel on Dec. 22, forcing the management
\nto halt the hotel's operations.<\/p>\n
The hotel reopened on March 17, with the hope to make amends
\nfor US$ 8.59 million in financial losses that resulted from the
\nclosure.<\/p>\n
Instead of meeting workers' demands, the management dismissed
\n420 members and executives of the union.<\/p>\n
The hotel management has offered compensation of between one-
\nand-a-half months and three months of basic salary to those
\ndismissed.<\/p>\n
The workers claimed basic monthly wages were only Rp 280,000,
\nfar below the Rp 384,000 official minimum wage (UMR). They said
\nthey earned more take home pay, because it included service
\ncharges.<\/p>\n
The hotel management said that besides basic salary in line
\nwith the UMR, a worker received a Rp 100,000 monthly
\ntransportation allowance. (bby)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/striking-shangri-la-workers-resign-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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