DAMRI drivers go strike over wages

SURABAYA (JP): Around 400 bus drivers and crew members of the state public transport company (DAMRI) went on strike in Surabaya leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

The drivers rallied at the provincial legislative council, demanding a 200 percent salary increase.

The all-out strike followed on from the failure of negotiations with the company's executives on Tuesday to make any headway.

"We just get Rp 278,137 a month for 12 hours work per day," said the protesters' spokesman Dewanto, who has been working as a driver for more than five years.

According to Dewanto, his monthly wage is unrealistic compared to the cost of living and the regional minimum wage for Surabaya, which is around Rp 337,200 per month.

"Consequently, the bus crews have to steal part of the money collected from the passengers. This certainly causes losses to both the company and its employees," he said. "Meanwhile, our status has yet to be clarified. Are we paid as private drivers or state-company employees."

I Ketut Murdita, head of Unit I of DAMRI, said the company had tried hard to improve the welfare of employees by providing incentives besides the basic wages and allowances. "As a state- owned company, our unit has yet to consult with DAMRI officials at the provincial level to study the matter in detail," he added.

The passengers, who had been standing for hours waiting for DAMRI buses, finally had to avail of other means of transport, including minivans and taxis, in spite of the higher cost.

The situation was exploited by many taxi drivers who demanded exorbitant fares, instead of the normal fares shown on the meter. Or intending passengers had to bargain (with the driver) for a charter price.

"I had no choice. I normally would pay Rp 10,000 for the taxi trip but this time I had to spend Rp 25,000 on the same distance," complained Antok, a bank employee in the Tunjungan shopping area.

Police deployed ten trucks to transport the stranded passengers to their destinations later in the morning.

There was no confirmation as to whether the drivers would continue their strike on Thursday. (45)