Bus crew workers put brakes on call for strike

Bus crew workers put brakes on call for strike

JAKARTA (JP): Public transportation crews rejected on Monday a
call for a mass strike aimed at pushing the city administration
to agree to a hike in bus fares.

Members of the crews, speaking on the condition of anonymity,
said that a strike was not a solution to the problem and would
ultimately hurt their earnings.

"Such a call for a mass strike will, as usual, only benefit
members of the board of management of the association of public
transportation operators," said a driver of a Kopaja minibus
plying the Manggarai and Blok M area in South Jakarta.

He vowed to reject calls to join the strike, including if
there was an instruction from the Kopaja management. Kopaja is a
cooperative of minibus owners in the city.

"I would only join them if they (the cooperative) threaten me
or pay me compensation for my losses for one day of joining the
strike."

In the past, he said, those who refused to participate in a
work stoppage were intimidated and their vehicles vandalized by
strikers.

A driver's assistant said that going on strike would only
cause him personal losses.

"I once joined a strike... What I got in return was that I
lost my income for the day," he said.

"Now I will only join such a strike if its goal is purely for
the welfare of the crews."

A group of bus owners, drivers and conductors made the call
for a strike during a visit to City Hall last week. They argue
that a fare hike is needed to cover the sharply cost of spare
parts.

The city administration previously proposed a Rp 200 increase
for minibuses and regular, express (Patas) buses, minibuses and
air-conditioned Patas buses. However, it insisted the fare hike
could only take effect after the General Session of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) in November.

Bus drivers and owners contend the increase must be
implemented soon.

Owners of minibuses also rejected the call to go on strike.

An owner of six Kopaja minibuses said the city administration
should provide a subsidy for vehicle owners to purchase spare
parts.

"Almost all bus owners now practice 'cannibalism', exchanging
spare parts among their vehicles, just to keep their business
running," he said.

Another minibus owner said the practices were so common that
an engine serial number sometimes did not match what was written
on the license.

Johannes Damanik, operational director of the Metro mini
minibus firm, said the plan to conduct a mass strike would be
decided after bus operators met the City Council on Tuesday.

"We'll hold the strike this week if the City Council's
response is unsatisfactory," Damanik told The Jakarta Post on
Monday after a meeting of executives from at least 14 bus firms.

Executives from bus firms, including Kopaja, Himpurna, ARH,
Mayasari Bhakti and Koantas Bima, are also expected to attend
Tuesday's hearing, he said. (ind/jun)