Protesting water firm workers break into Palyja office

Protesting water firm workers break into Palyja office

JAKARTA (JP): About 30 members of city-owned water management
company PDAM Jaya's labor union broke into a PT Palyja office in
Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday morning and forced
their colleagues to join their protest.

Uraini Umarjadi, public relations manager at PT Pam Lyonnaise
Jaya (Palyja), one of PDAM Jaya's two foreign joint venture
partners, said on Wednesday the union members terrorized the 33
employees in the office, which is used to serve the company's
large customers, forcing them to stop working.

No serious incidents were recorded, but a number of chairs and
cups were broken by the union members, who arrived at about 10:30
a.m.

"Immediately after they entered the office, the union members
shouted, asking the employees to halt their activities and join
their demonstration," Uraini said.

When the office workers refused to join the protest, some of
the union members began throwing chairs and cups, she said.

Fearing a possible clash, the office staff obeyed the union
members' demand and left the office at 12:30 p.m.

The union members then left the office.

"Today, only four employees came to the office," she said.

According to Uraini, the building was guarded by two police
officers. They, however, were unable to prevent the labor union
members from entering the office, she said.

She said the union members claimed the act was part of their
efforts to make their strike a success.

Palyja president Christian Michelon expressed disappointment
over the incident in a written statement on Wednesday, saying
such actions were intolerable.

"A labor union is formed to protect and ensure the welfare and
security of the staff, not to terrorize or frighten those who are
dedicating their services to the community," he said.

Hundreds of PDAM Jaya employees in the labor union have staged
continuous rallies since April 8 to demand the cancellation of
water management cooperations between PDAM Jaya and its foreign
partners.

Misunderstanding

Labor union founder Amir R. Tanjung confirmed on Wednesday
that some of the union's members had entered the Palyja office in
Bendungan Hilir but denied they had terrorized the employees.

"There was no terror. It's maybe just a misunderstanding that
the office employees were being forced to join our movement," he
said after being questioned by officials from the city
inspectorate office at City Hall over the union's demonstrations.

He also said the union had a special team of 100 union members
who were assigned to enter PDAM Jaya offices, including those
being used by the two joint venture partners, to ask whether
employees who were union members would join the protest.

When asked about his questioning, Amir said the officials
focused their questions on the reasons and people behind the
protests.

"I told them we demanded the cancellation of the water
management agreements and were not protesting salary disparities.
We also convinced them that we are financing the protests
ourselves," he said.

He said the labor union had received financial assistance
amounting to some Rp 10 million from PDAM Jaya president Rama
Boedi to make labor union member cards.

"But he isn't involved in our movement," Amir said.

There is speculation Rama is behind the rallies because he has
failed to stop the protests and asked Governor Sutiyoso not to
get involved in the case.

Sutiyoso has said Rama could be replaced if he was found
incapable of managing the firm's employees. (ind)