PPD crew members to go on strike

JAKARTA: Employees of the state-run city bus company (PPD) are threatening to go on strike and will stage a rally at the State Palace on Tuesday morning.

Robinson Hasibuan, a driver who claimed to be a representative of the company's labor union, said that the rally was the best way for crew members to vent their frustration regarding problems afflicting the company.

He said rampant corruption within the PPD had hampered the way to improve the company's performance and eventually the lives of crew members.

Saying that efforts by the State Ministry of State Enterprises to save PPD had failed, he said: "We also demand President Megawati to hand the company over to the Jakarta city administration.

Separately, company spokesman Syarifuddin told The Jakarta Post that not all the employees would go on strike.

However, he admitted that there were problems facing PPD, adding that employee salaries for March had not been paid and that they had only received half of their salary in February.--JP