Garment workers seek council's support

JAKARTA (JP): At least 250 employees of sock manufacturer PT Nagamas Busana Tama went to the City Council on Tuesday seeking support for their union, which has not been recognized by the company's management.

Wearing black shirts and headbands, the workers arrived in four buses and unfurled posters denouncing the company's management.

The union's secretary, Juariah, said the Independent Workers Union (SPM) was established on Nov. 5 but had not been recognized by the firm, which operates on Jl. Kamal Muara in North Jakarta.

"The firm even established a rival union last month instead of recognizing us," Juariah said.

She said the new union, affiliated with the All-Indonesia Workers Union, was chaired by Sugeng Simamora, a commissioner of the firm.

She also claimed the firm's management filed a police complaint against her and SPM chairman Maulana in a bid to suppress SPM.

Juariah also maintained that at least 85 percent of the firm's total 550 employees were members of SPM, which is affiliated with the Indonesian Metal Workers Union.

In a campaign to win recognition for SPM, the employees have been on strike since Feb. 26.

The strikers also are demanding that the raises they received be made retroactive to January. The government raised the monthly minimum wage to Rp 426,000 effective as of the beginning of this year.

Juariah said workers only received the raise in February, and were paid the old minimum wage of Rp 344,000 in January.

The chairman of City Council Commission E for social welfare, Edy Suchro, who met with representatives of the workers, contacted members of the firm's management.

In a telephone conversation, Simamora told Edy the firm refused to recognize SPM because it was affiliated with a metal workers union, which was not suitable for a garment firm.

Simamora said management was willing to meet with the strikers to discuss their demand that their raise be made retroactive to January.

Representatives of SPM responded by saying its affiliation with the metal workers union did not interfere with SPM's activities. (jun)