PT DI employees go on strike, production halted
PT DI employees go on strike, production halted
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung
More than 9,000 workers of the only state-owned aircraft firm,
PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI), went on strike on Tuesday,
protesting the management's sluggishness in eradicating
corruption, collusion and nepotistic practices in the company.
The employees' action coincided with the arrival of Minister
of Defense Matori Abdul Jalil, who witnessed the handover of two
BO-105 helicopters from PT DI to the Indonesian Navy, represented
by Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Indroko Sastrowiyono.
All activities were halted for hours at the company, founded
by former president B.J. Habibie.
The workers coordinated by the Employees' Communication Forum,
demanded that the management make real and concrete steps to
fight corruption.
Last June, employees went on strike demanding a better salary,
more allowances and the eradication of corruption, collusion and
nepotistic practices in the company.
During the two-day strike, the employees also asked the
company to return a total of Rp 35 billion to them. They said the
money, collected from their monthly salaries, had been used to
finance the activities of the company's housewives' organization.
The employees also accused the company of being incompetent as
it had suffered some Rp 200 billion in losses last year.
The management agreed to meet the demands of the employees and
make several administrative steps.
The company's marketing director, Ilham Habibie, the eldest
son of BJ Habibie, resigned.
"That's not enough. We are not satisfied with the management's
actions. The management has frozen several corruption cases,"
said Arif, citing the Rp 2.5 billion insurance money that had
affected PT Indonesia North America, a U.S. subsidiary of PT
Dirgantara Indonesia.
"The company has done little to improve its financial
efficiency, as the mark ups involved in purchasing aircraft parts
had yet to be dealt with properly."
"The purchase of landing lights was irrational. Each landing
light actually costs US$3,162, but the company bought them for
$9,100 each. The markup was more than 200 percent," said Arif.
The management was reluctant to respond to the demonstration
held by employees.
Arif said that the employees would march to the House of
Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on Wednesday to convey their
demands.
"Around 5,000 employees will take part. We will travel there
in at least 80 buses."