DAMRI drivers go strike over wages

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)