Pertamina Balongan workers on strike

Pertamina Balongan workers on strike

INDRAMAYU, West Java: Temporary workers at the Balongan, West
Java, oil refinery of state oil and gas company Pertamina staged
their second day of protest over demands for higher wages on
Wednesday.

A Pertamina spokesman said the protests did not disrupt
operations at Balongan, which supplies the bulk of Jakarta's
fuel.

Most of the demonstrators were drivers hired by Pertamina's 20
contractors, said Suwandi, spokesman at Pertamina's Distribution
Unit VI, under which Balongan operates.

Around 1,000 workers held a peaceful sit-in protest in front
of Pertamina's office. On Tuesday, they marched for seven
kilometers, from the Balongan refinery complex to the Indramayu
legislative council building.

The workers demanded Pertamina increase their monthly salary
by 50 percent, from the current Rp 476,000. -- JP