All Indonesian Workers Union to be led by presidium
All Indonesian Workers Union to be led by presidium
CARINGIN, West Java (JP): The structure of the All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI) will be changed from a centralized organization into a federation, which will give greater say to industrial sectors.
The decision was made yesterday during the ongoing SPSI congress here. The participants also decided that the organization will be led by a presidium whose tasks are mainly to establish policies and deal with organizational matters.
Endang Thamrin, who chairs Commission B for organizational matters, said the congress has adopted a decision made at last year's leadership meeting, when it was suggested that the labor organization be led by a presidium.
The membership of the presidium will be determined by a nine- member electoral team. The team itself consists of one representative from the organization's central board, four union representatives from various industrial sectors, and four others from SPSI's provincial chapters.
The central leadership board appointed Deputy Chairman Datuk Bagindo as their representative on the team. The 13 sectors chose the SPSI chairman in charge of trade and banking Bomer Pasaribu; Tosari Wijaya of the cigarette, tobacco, food and beverage union; Hikayat Atika Karya of the metal, electronic and machinery union; and Syukur Sarto of the construction and public works union.
The provincial chapters of SPSI have yet to appoint their representatives to the team. Negotiations have stalled because of bickering between the provincial chapters of West Java and East Java.
The eight provincial chapters of Sumatra agreed to appoint West Sumatra chapter leaders to be their voice at the congress. Four Kalimantan provincial chapters are being represented by Central Kalimantan, while four Sulawesi provincial chapters agreed to be represented by South Sulawesi.
The four provincial chapters of Java were scheduled yesterday to meet and appoint their representative.
Endang said yesterday that the reforms and the establishment of a presidium leadership were expected to help the labor union be more professional in handling industrial relations.
Congress sources told The Jakarta Post that SOKSI and Kosgoro, two influential organizations affiliated with the ruling political grouping Golkar, were competing head-on to lead the presidium.
"With the appointment of Bomer Pasaribu and Syukur Sarto, both from SOKSI, the presidium might be dominated by SOKSI," one of the sources said.
The sources said they believed SPSI, the only labor organization recognized by the government, would remain unpopular to workers because the organization is dominated by unprofessional Golkar officials.
The electoral team is scheduled to meet today to elect the presidium's members and the size of the membership.
Meanwhile, the government turned down the union's call yesterday that it revoke a ministerial decree on the establishment of labor unions at companies. The decree, SPSI leaders claim, tramples the workers' right to associate.
Director General for Industrial Relations and Labor Standards Suwarto said the 1994 decree was actually issued to encourage workers to join SPSI and thus strengthen their bargaining position. (rms)