Fired taxi drivers sue PT Gamya

Fired taxi drivers sue PT Gamya

JAKARTA (JP): Five former Gamya taxi drivers filed a lawsuit at the East Jakarta District Court yesterday, claiming the company unfairly dismissed them.

Six other former drivers filed the same lawsuit at the same court last November.

In a statement submitted to the court by defense lawyer Surya Wirawan of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute yesterday, the drivers demand that PT Gamya pay for all immaterial and material losses caused by their dismissal.

The drivers demand the company compensate them Rp 200 million (US 90,000) each for material losses and Rp 100 million each for mental suffering.

The six former drivers demanded the same amount last year.

PT Gamya, a subsidiary of Blue Bird Taxi, has told the court that it dismissed 130 employees between April and June 1994 following efforts by its drivers to establish a workers' union.

PT Gamya insisted an union was unnecessary because the company had set up an association called the Employees' Corps. Earlier, however, the drivers said the corps doesn't defend their interests.

The drivers said they wanted an union to challenge the management's system of forcing drivers to resign from the company after three years in order to reapply for another three year stint.

More than 200 employees at the transportation company, mainly drivers, went on strike in July 1994 to protest the company's refusal to allow a workers' union.

At yesterday's session lawyer Surya also submitted a defense statement by the six drivers who filed their lawsuit in November.

A ministry of manpower decree stipulates that companies should allow employees to form a union.(03)