Caltex workers threaten to strike

PEKANBARU, Riau: Thousands of field workers of American mining company PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia (CPI) threatened on Tuesday to go strike if the management went ahead with its decision to cut the days off in the company.

The spokesman for the CPI workers union (SPNC), Kusno Teguh, said the workers employed in oil wells would go strike as of Wednesday until the management reviewed the decision.

The management has changed the working days by cutting the days off from five days to two days for every five working days. The current ruling in the company stipulates that workers employed in oil wells are allowed to take five days off for every five working days.

"We cannot imagine what will happen if all the workers employed in oil wells, go on strike for a long period," said Kusno.

He said SPNC had filed a complaint with the local chapter of the Labor Dispute Settlement (P4D) to reject CPI's request for the new policy on the revised working days.

"It is better for the workers' health to work for five days and take a rest for five days," he said. -- JP