Drivers' strike affects cement

CIREBON, West Java: Cement prices may rise again soon because of an on-going strike of teamsters who are supposed to bring the product to other cities.

Some 100 drivers of Patria Inti Sejahtera, the company contracted to distribute the cement produced by a local factory of the PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa, have gone on strike demanding higher wages and their right to representation from the All Indonesian Workers' Union (SPSI), the Antara news agency reported.

The company distributes cement to Cirebon and a number of cities in Central Java, including Yogyakarta.

The drivers said that the allowances given to them barely cover the expenses they incur along the way, which includes paying off transport officials. Some of them said that very often they ran a deficit so the only way to cover the expenses is by accepting more cargo on the way back. This practice, however, has now been banned by the management.

The price of cement in Cirebon has already soared to Rp 7,800 a sack, compared to the Rp 6,900 reference price set by the government. (emb)