Jakarta Hospital paramedics complain over suspension

Jakarta Hospital paramedics complain over suspension

JAKARTA (JP): Thirty employees from Jakarta Hospital told the
City Council on Tuesday that they were suspended from their jobs
after forming a labor union.

The head nurse in the intensive care unit at the hospital,
Ophet Emanora, who is also the chairwoman of the Nurses and
Paramedics Labor Union, told councillors from Commission E for
social welfare that the decision was made to form the union
because of the wide pay gap between hospital employees and
directors.

The directors were hired by the Jakarta Hospital Foundation
for the 1999 to 2002 period.

"The previous directors were transparent in deciding the
salary structure, but not the current directors. They increased
their own salaries to over Rp 10 million, while many of the
employees' monthly salaries are below the minimum wage set by the
government," Ophet was quoted by Antara as saying.

She said a nurse who had worked at the hospital for five years
received Rp 296,000 a month, far below the monthly minimum wage
of Rp 426,000 in the capital.

Another employee, Tiomsi Tambunan, who has been working at the
hospital for 31 years, receives Rp 560,000 a month.

Because of what they believe is an unfair salary structure,
the employees established the labor union to fight for an
improvement in their welfare.

According to Ophet, the hospital management suspended her
because of her activities with the union. Other employees
protested her suspension and signed a petition demanding the
dismissal of the directors, salary increases and the
reinstatement of Ophet.

The directors responded by ordering the hospital's 361
employees to fill out forms stating their compliance with all
hospital regulations.

Thirty employees who failed to return the forms on time were
suspended.

"After we were suspended, we were treated like criminals,"
Ophet said.

She said they were not free to enter the hospital, and if they
did they were followed by security guards.

Hospital director Emmi Salman said the management suspended
the employees in accordance with proper procedures. He also said
the management had consulted with the provincial manpower office
and the Jakarta Hospital Foundation before ordering the
suspensions.

Emmi said the employees staged a protest against the hospital
management because of employee transfers and demotions, and the
recruitment of new employees, all of which were carried out after
management received the results of a Strength, Weakness,
Opportunity and Threat analysis.

He also underlined that the employees should respect the right
of the hospital to continue treating patients during this
dispute.

The deputy chairman of Commission E, Hasan Ishak, called on
the hospital to allow the suspended employees to return to work.

"But we also call upon the employees to cooperate with the
management," he said.