Shangri-La employees fined US$2m

Shangri-La employees fined US$2m

JAKARTA: The South Jakarta District Court ordered seven former
employees of the five star Shangri-La hotel to pay some US$2
million in compensation for the losses they were accused of
causing during their demonstrations against the hotel's
management last year.

They were also required to issue a written apology to the
management in five national newspapers, namely Kompas, Suara
Pembaruan, Bisnis Indonesia, Jawa Pos and The Jakarta Post.

The seven accused were Halilintar Nurdin, Adeng Surachman,
Valentinus Wagiyo, Edy Hudiyanto, M. Zulrachman, Isep S. Mubarok
and Hemasari Dharmabumi.

"The accused were proven guilty of intimidating the hotel's
management," presiding Judge IDG. Putra Jadnya told the court.

On Dec.22 last year, the accused, in their capacity as leaders
of the Shangri-La Jakarta Independent Labor Union (SPMS), led
their members to stage a protest against the hotel's management
after their demands, including improvements to worker welfare and
freedom of speech, were ignored.

They then went on strike, erected posters specifying their
demands, gave speeches and blockaded the hotel.

Their lawyer, Johnson Panjaitan, said that they would appeal
to a higher court. --JP