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.