Aircraft maker to halt activities

Aircraft maker to halt activities

BANDUNG, West Java: The management of state aircraft
manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia will shut down its operation
from Thursday until next Tuesday following a strike by its 9,300
workers on Tuesday.

The strikers, from the Workers Communication Forum, demanded
company director Jusman S. Djamal step down for not tripling
their basic salaries.

"The time off will give both employees and the management a
chance to negotiate," company spokesman Rakhendi Triyatna told
The Jakarta Post on Wednesday, without elaborating on the
company's stance on the strike.

Rakhendi said the workers could return to the job next
Wednesday.

Jusman asserted earlier that the company did not have the
money to meet the workers' demand.

He also said the company was nearing the deadline for the
completion of two CN-235 aircraft ordered by South Korea and
another CN-235 ordered by Brunei.

"If the strike continues, a solution will be reached at the
general shareholders meeting," Jusman said.

Workers protested in June to demand the company's management
be restructured. This action was followed by the resignation of
the company's marketing director, Ilham Habibie, the son of
former president and PT Dirgantara founder B.J. Habibie.(25/bby)