Drivers' strike affects cement

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)