Airport workers cancel strike

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Airport workers in 13 cities, including Denpasar, Surabaya and Yogyakarta, have canceled their plan to strike over the government's attempt to take over the management of their pensions.

Instead, they will hold a peaceful demonstration.

In a letter sent to The Jakarta Post, state airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I (AP I) labor union chairwoman Itje Yulinar said the employees would wear black ribbons from Tuesday to Thursday to express their concern over the plan.

"The act is not a strike, nor will airlines' safety services be jeopardized by it," said Itje. "During the act, employees will continue to work as usual."

This newspaper reported on Jan. 14 that the workers of the state-owned company had agreed to stage a massive protest three days prior to Jan. 21, when they would go on strike.

At that time, Itje said they would abort the plan to strike if the government no longer intended to transfer the funds to a private insurance firm.

Following the article's publication, several airlines and embassies have been calling in out of concern that the strike would disrupt activities and jeopardize safety.

In the letter, Itje said that the peaceful act would continue until an agreement with State Minister of State Enterprises Sugiharto had been issued.

Sugiharto, as reported by the media, has said that he would not approve the fund transfer and would summon AP I's board of directors.

Airports overseen by AP I are the international ones in Denpasar, Surabaya, Makassar in South Sulawesi, Balikpapan in East Kalimantan, Biak in Papua, Manado in North Sulawesi and Yogyakarta, and the domestic ones in Surakarta in Central Java, Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, Semarang, Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara, Ambon in Maluku and Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara.