Local seamen demand independent labor union

JAKARTA (JP): More than 500 Indonesian workers employed in foreign ships staged a demonstration here over the weekend, demanding an extraordinary congress to reform their government- dominated union.

The protesters even occupied on Friday the Indonesian Seamen's Association (KPI) Headquarters in Cikini, Central Jakarta, and took "hostage" several KPI executives for several hours.

Sandewang, coordinator of the protest, demanded that a congress be hastened and that government employees be removed from the union.

"Workers have a right to unionize and all positions in this sector of the union must be given to workers...corrupt and collusive practices must be halted," he said.

The International Transport Federation has threatened to suspend Indonesia's membership from the Federation, thereby effectively ending possible employment for Indonesian seamen aboard foreign vessels.

"KPI is an affiliated member of the International Transport Federation (ITF) and the latter has been active in giving recommendations on behalf of Indonesian seamen and protection to troubled ones," Sandewang said.

"Some 32,000 Indonesian seamen employed in foreign ships in numerous countries with a contribution of US$384 million monthly in government remittance may lose their job if Indonesia fails to give a positive response to the Federation's threat," he added.

ITF Secretary General David Cockromt, during a recent visit here, stressed the seriousness of the threat of revoking KPI's affiliation and withdrawing its recommendations and protection for Indonesian seamen.

He said the Federation has strict labor rulings in the transportation sector, and has also sent a letter to both the Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar and Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Al-Hilal Hamdi to enforce ILO Convention No. 87 on freedom of association.

Sandewang pointed out that among those who must be dismissed was KPI chairman Iskandar B. Illahude who is also director of the classification bureau at the Directorate General of Sea Transportation at the transportation ministry, and KPI treasurer Harun Let-let who is also chief of the financial bureau at the ministry.

Following intensive negotiation it was eventually agreed that an extraordinary congress would soon be held to elect new functionaries from the seamen themselves, while government officials would be removed from the union.

Arif Sumadji, outgoing deputy chairman of KPI, said the date of the extraordinary congress would be set as soon as possible and it was expected to go on democratically to give opportunities for seamen to lead the union.

"The ITF's threat is a good lesson not only for KPI but also for other unions in Indonesia," he said.

Syukur Sarto, secretary general of the All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation (FSPSI), an umbrella for 13 sectoral unions including KPI, said KPI's current executive board has agreed to stage an extraordinary congress on April 7. (rms)