Workers, management stick to their guns<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Negotiations between the workers and management
\nof PT Cometa Can Corp., a West Jakarta-based can factory, began
\nyesterday, as the strike there entered its second day.<\/p>\n
\"We will stay on strike until management fulfills all our
\ndemands,\" said a female worker who asked to remain anonymous.<\/p>\n
Worker representatives and the management of the company were
\ninvolved in intensive, closed-door negotiations in an athletic
\nhall of the Penjaringan Youth Center, North Jakarta, while
\nworkers waited in a parking lot outside.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's negotiations, which were also attended by
\nrepresentatives of the All Indonesian Workers' Union (SPSI) and
\nthe Ministry of Manpower, dealt with six of the 18 worker
\ndemands.<\/p>\n
As of yesterday afternoon, they agreed on only two points --
\nthe provision of old age pensions and the inclusion of all
\nworkers in the government-run social and health insurance scheme
\ncalled Jamsostek.<\/p>\n
The negotiations almost broke down when some angry workers
\nforced their way to the negotiation room to follow a police
\nofficer from behind.<\/p>\n
The workers said the officer had violated their agreement with
\nthe management not to involve the military or police in the
\nsettlement of the labor dispute, and that once they got involved
\nthe workers would terminate negotiations.<\/p>\n
Workers of PT Cometa Can Corp., a can factory which was
\nestablished in 1976, began the strike in front of the factory's
\noffice at Pluit Muara Karang, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The workers demanded that the company management provide
\nworkers with lunch and transport allowances and health insurance,
\nin addition to the current the basic salary of Rp 3,800 (US$1.74)
\nper day.<\/p>\n
The workers said that the management had previously promised
\nto fulfill some of their current demands.<\/p>\n
Enny Agung, an executive of the company, confirmed that the
\ncompany had previously agreed to several of the workers' demands
\nin principle. He hastened to add, however, that it would be a
\nmatter of time before the management would be able to deliver
\nthem.<\/p>\n
\"They did not seem like they were willing to wait,\" Enny said.<\/p>\n
Enny said that workers also demanded that the company provide
\na uniform for part time workers for free.<\/p>\n
\"However, there was a high level of turnover among part-time
\nemployees so we want them to pay for the uniform as part of a
\nplan to keep them,\" Enny said.<\/p>\n
The company produces cans for major brand names, such as Blue
\nBand margarine, Khong Ghuan biscuit and Promina milk. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/workers-management-stick-to-their-guns-1447893297",
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