SBY to attend rally of HI workers

SBY to attend rally of HI workers

An ongoing protest rally by around 1,300 Hotel Indonesia
employees appears to have attracted the attention of presidential
hopeful Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, nicknamed SBY, and another
political party.

"Our protest tomorrow is scheduled to be attended by Pak SBY
from the Democratic Party and also members of the Prosperous
Justice Party (PKS)," said Hotel Indonesia workers union chairman
Sahrul Sidiq on Tuesday, on the sidelines of another protest
against the hotel management's decision to dismiss all employees.

"We'll keep on protesting until we reach agreement with the
board of directors," he added.

Sahrul said that the union had discussed the matter with Hotel
Indonesia Natour president director A.M. Suseto but no progress
was made.

"The meeting was also attended by some legislators who
expressed their regret at the dismissals.

According to Sahrul, the takeover policy by new investor PT
Citra Karya Bumi Indah, a subsidiary of cigarette giant Djarum
Group, would create around 8,000 jobs.

"Why can't they accommodate us? Some 1,300 workers face
dismissal," he said. -- JP