Workers urge U.S. to lobby IMF on loans<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): More than 500 workers grouped in the
\ntransportation sector trade union (SPTI) staged a demonstration
\nin front of the United States Embassy here yesterday, urging the
\nU.S. government to press the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to
\nimmediately disburse pledged loans to help low-income
\nIndonesians.<\/p>\n
The workers, mostly bus drivers and ship crew members, sang
\npatriotic songs as they held up banners urging the U.S. to take
\nsteps to ensure that the loan move forward.<\/p>\n
Under the watchful eye of dozens of police and military
\npersonnel, the workers demanded to meet with the U.S. ambassador.<\/p>\n
After intense negotiations, two embassy staff members agreed
\nto receive five representatives from the workers.<\/p>\n
Ch. David, chairman of the trade union, said they were not
\nable to meet Ambassador Stapleton Roy, but were received by
\nRichard Gong, a United States Information Service director, and
\nMark Hunter, the security attache.<\/p>\n
\"We lodged our petition and the embassy staff pledged to send
\nit to U.S. President Bill Clinton,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, over 100 workers of Masterina ceramic factory in
\nEast Jakarta staged a sit-in protest at the Ministry of Manpower
\nhere yesterday to protest their employer's reluctance to raise
\nwages.<\/p>\n
\"We will stay here until the management meets our demand,\"
\nBurhanuddin, a worker representative, said.<\/p>\n
He said the company's management refused to abide by an
\nagreement made after an initial strike last month which stated
\nthat wages would be raised between 30 percent and 50 percent.<\/p>\n
\"In a tripartite negotiation which involved the ministry
\nfollowing the first labor strike last month, the management
\nagreed to raise wages,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Burhanuddin admitted that workers were already being paid in
\naccordance to the government-set monthly minimum wage of Rp
\n172,000, but pointed out that such a salary was not enough to
\nprovide for the workers' daily necessities.<\/p>\n
Sahat S., a staff member of the industrial relations
\ndirectorate at the ministry, said after receiving the workers'
\nrepresentatives that his directorate would call on the company's
\nmanagement to resume negotiations. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/workers-urge-us-to-lobby-imf-on-loans-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}