Angry workers rampage over holiday bonuses

TANGERANG (JP): Some 8,000 protesting workers from two factories producing Nike shoes went on a rampage on Wednesday afternoon, vandalizing seven cars in the parking lot of PT Astra's Shoe Industry Division on Jl. Raya Serang in Balaraja, Tangerang.

The group staged a massive protest beginning at noon to demand larger holiday bonuses. The factories' management negotiated throughout the day with representatives of the workers and an official from the Ministry of Manpower.

"We want larger holiday bonuses and the 10 percent tax imposed on the bonuses to be canceled," an employee, who requested anonymity, said.

Holiday bonuses are given annually to the employees and traditionally are equivalent to one months salary.

As negotiations dragged on throughout the day with no agreement being reached, the situation became tense and the workers began to pelt the factory with stones.

Seven vehicles -- three Toyota Kijang vans, a Suzuki Baleno sedan, an Isuzu Panther van and two Daihatsu Espass vans -- were badly damaged when they were pelted with stones and overturned by the workers. Several factory windows were also broken in the incident.

Dozens of police officers were deployed to secure the factory and prevent the fray from spreading.

The protesters also demanded a fair and democratic election be held to select a labor union leader.

"The current union caretakers are not able to voice our aspirations. We also want the company's chief of staff to resign because he has failed to carry out his job properly," one of the employees said.

Workers threatened to continue their protests until their demand were met.

As of Wednesday afternoon negotiations were ongoing. "We hope to announce the results soon," said Marbun, an official from the Ministry of Manpower.

Not far from the PT Astra factory, a group of 700 workers from PT TYM Nusantara staged a protest on Tuesday night.

The protest turned violent at about 9:30 p.m., with workers vandalizing buildings, destroying office equipment and damaging two cars -- an Opel Blazer jeep and an Isuzu Panther van. The protest was called when 43 employees were allegedly laid off without being properly compensated.

"They demanded fair treatment for their fellow workers and refused to work until management met their demands," a security guard at the factory said.

The factory's management was unavailable for comment. (41/edt)