Local seamen demand independent labor union

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)