Shangri-La accused of sabotaging talks

JAKARTA (JP): The Shangri-La Hotel Independent Workers' Union (SPMS) on Tuesday accused the hotel management of sabotaging tripartite negotiations with the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration by refusing to deliver an invitation on the talks to the union.

SPMS deputy secretary Odie Hudiyanto said the invitation was only delivered by the hotel to the union on Tuesday, while talks to discuss the dispute had been set for March 14.

Odie claimed the hotel management must have received the letter to be delivered to the union before March 14.

"We consider it a crime. The management intentionally tried to hide our letter," Odie told The Jakarta Post.

SPMS comprises nearly 500 employees of the hotel who were dismissed after holding a strike that forced the hotel to close for almost three months.

The hotel reopened on Saturday, greeted by a picket line of SPMS members.

Shangri-La senior manager Wastu Widanto said he did not know about the letter.

"They (the union) should inform us about their address so we can deliver their letters," Wastu said on Tuesday.

SPMS has set up a secretariat at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute. (jun)