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)