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