PT DI employees protest firing of colleagues
PT DI employees protest firing of colleagues
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung
Thousands of employees of state-owned aircraftmaker PT
Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) staged a strong protest at the
dismissal of the chairman and the secretary of the Employee
Communication Forum Arif Minardi and A.M. Bone on Tuesday.
While the protest took place in front of the Management Center
building on Jl. Padjadjaran, Minardi and Bone, accompanied by 25
other employees went to the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) to report
the management's unjustified action in firing them.
Minardi said he had never been consulted about the dismissal,
despite the fact that the dismissal letter was signed on Oct. 13,
2001.
Minardi was known for his "toughness" in encouraging employees
to go on strike.
PT DI Managing Director Jusman S. Djamal said in his office on
Tuesday that the dismissal of Minardi and Bone were based on the
fact that the two were the men responsible for a series of
employee demonstrations and strikes recently.
"The company has been attempting to meet a deadline to
complete an order from Korea no later than Dec. 15. or we will
face a penalty that could damage the company's international
reputation," Jusman said.
He told all the employees to go back to work and that the
company's income was from those who placed orders with the
company.
"The management has not been upset by the employees' demand.
What causes us regret is that the demand has been expressed in
strikes, which halt the company's production process. The company
had to spend at least Rp 17 billion in salary payments for
employees who have been idle for four months."
The employees staged several demonstrations over the last four
months. They demanded better health allowances and the
elimination of corruption, collusion and nepotism.
Their demands were largely fulfilled and Ilham Habibie, the
son of former president B.J. Habibie, resigned. But the protests
continued.
The employees said they would go on strike until they met with
Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea on Oct.
22.