JICT labor union holds first congress

JICT labor union holds first congress

JAKARTA: Some 60 members of the workers union of PT Jakarta
International Container Terminal (JICT), which is responsible for
the loading and unloading of containers at the Tanjung Priok
Port, held a congress at the Raddin Hotel in Ancol, North
Jakarta, on Saturday.

The congress was held to elect new members of the union's
executive board, review its statutes and establish its vision and
mission as well as programs.

Irma S. Chan, an organizing committee member for the congress,
said it was the first congress held since the union was set up in
July 1999. The union was established following the privatization
of PT JICT, a move which sparked protests by workers.

In March 1999, Hong Kong-based Grosbeak Pte Ltd bought 51
percent of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) II, the parent
company of PT JICT, for US$215 million. The sale was part of the
Indonesian government's policy of privatizing state companies due
to the monetary crisis.

Since 1999, the union has fought to improve the welfare of
workers, resulting in, among other things, an increase in
salaries and an improved pension fund.--JP