Sit-in continues at Cibadak shoe factory

Sit-in continues at Cibadak shoe factory

TANGERANG (JP): About 6,000 shoemakers at a Cibadak factory,
in the Cikupa district here, entered yesterday the second day of
their strike.

After Monday's sit-in at the factory, their employer met
strikers' demands by firing two personnel managers, bringing
forward the pay day and promising to open a workers insurance
fund.

But the protesters said that the two factory managers, Bambang
Sardoko and Akhmad Suhardo, were still working at the site
yesterday.

According to the workers, the two executives -- in particular
Bambang, who was attacked by angry protesters during Monday's
strike -- had allegedly broken the law by firing employees
without proper reason and adequate compensation.

It was the personnel managers' flippant approach to firing
staff that prompted the workers to strike, they said.

The protesters demanded the insurance fund be set up quickly.

"We need the measures to come into effect soon," one of the
protesters said. "We no longer want to be cheated."

A female employee added: "We'll never return to work until our
demands are fulfilled by management."

The factory, which produces Eagle-brand shoes, belongs to PT
Garuda Indawa, PT Kostra Mas Jaya and PT Bima Dongin Sport.

The management outlined their decision to meet workers'
demands in a letter signed Monday by general manager Kim Gwang Do
and director Seo Haeng Won.

The letter was addressed to the workers, the local manpower
office and the workers' association.

The workers began yesterday their second sit-in at the
factory's compound about 8 a.m. No violations were recorded
during yesterday's strike. (41/bsr)