KPC workers back on strike

KPC workers back on strike

JAKARTA (JP): Coal mining company PT Kaltim Prima Coal halted
its operations once more on Wednesday as workers backed away from
negotiations and blockaded the company's mine in Sanggata
regency, East Kalimantan, an executive at the company said on
Wednesday.

This was the third time within the past two months that KPC
was forced to stop its operations, damaging the company's ability
to serve its customers.

KPC general manager Thierry Brunner said the workers
unexpectedly rejected KPC's final offer, despite earlier signs
they would give their approval.

He said KPC had agreed to give the workers a raise but in
return demanded the workers give assurances they would no longer
blockade the mine and would comply with all existing work
regulations.

"We can't properly run our business if work regulations are
not respected," he told The Jakarta Post.

KPC earlier expressed fear it would lose customers if it did
not receive a guarantee from workers they would not disturb the
company's operations in the future.(bkm)