SPSI pledges autonomy despite ties with Golkar
SPSI pledges autonomy despite ties with Golkar
CARINGIN, West Java (JP): The new chairman of the All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI), Bomer Pasaribu, vowed to make the only officially sanctioned labor union independent despite its ties with Golkar.
Bomer, who is a legislator for Golkar, the dominant political grouping, told The Jakarta Post he is committed to fighting for the interests of the workers.
Speaking after his election during the union's congress, which concluded here last week, Bomer said he has spent a great portion of his life for the workers' union.
"My background as part of the Golkar cadre should not be seen as an obstacle," he said. "Instead, it should be seen as a positive contribution toward developing my career in the labor organization."
He said his political background does not necessarily mean that the union has failed to follow President Soeharto's instructions given while opening the congress last Wednesday. The President said that SPSI should choose leaders from among the workers.
The labor organization has often been criticized as ineffective and failing to represent the workers because many of its officials are members of Golkar-affiliated organizations, such as SOKSI and Kosgoro.
The congress introduced significant reforms in the organization, including the change in its structure -- from that of a centralized organization into a federation.
The union now has a presidium, a plenary board, as well as a central executive board of 17 people. It used to have one chairman, a number of deputies and a secretary-general.
The gathering was closed by Vice President Try Sutrisno on Sunday.
"I am committed to fighting for workers' interests and I have spent the larger part of my life for the organization," he said.
Born in 1947 in Batang Toru, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, Bomer has been a part of the workers' organization since its establishment in 1973.
Bomer expressed his optimism that he would also be able to forge strong cooperation with the other presidium members.
"The members are experienced elements of the organization, and they are all close to me," Bomer said. "I hope the newly- appointed executive board will be able to change and improve the organization's image".
The other presidium members are Marzuki Achmad, Datuk Bagindo, Wilhelmus Bokha, Atika Karwa and Tosari Wijaya who is also secretary-general of the United Development Party (PPP).
Women
Bomer said the organization has started to pay greater attention to women in the workplace. He cited the election to the presidium of Atika Karwa, an activist from the forestry sectoral trade union, as proof of this commitment.
The congress has decided to design special programs to empower women and child workers, and to fight for their interests, he said.
In addition, the congress suggested that the executive board establish a special department for women in the organization.
Bomer said a majority of workers in the forestry, textile, garment and food sectors are women and children, so it is only fair that they obtained special attention during the congress.
Bomer also said the reforms in SPSI would go beyond structural changes. The union will now strive harder to "empower workers" during the transitional phase of entering the industrialization era and facing economic liberalization, he said.
Structural reforms have already transformed SPSI into an umbrella organization for 13 sectoral trade unions. It is now led by the presidium under the constant supervision of all members of the plenary board and the executive board to ensure more democratic decision making, he said.
The 13-member plenary board and 17-member executive board will meet annually to appraise the presidium's performance, and they have the authority to reprimand the leadership should they perform ineffectively.
Bomer said that in the future, all programs related to industrial relations will be handled by the 13 sectoral trade unions.
It is the sectoral unions which will be in the front line to represent workers in industrial disputes with employers, he said.
Contrary to the past system of leadership, the current structure enables trade unions at the level of industrial sectors to design their own programs.
"The sectoral trade unions are also independent in implementing the organization's common mission," he said. (rms)