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)