Steady Safe bus drivers stage protest over fares

JAKARTA (JP): Two hundred Steady Safe bus drivers staged a protest yesterday over a confusing decision on new fares following the hike in gasoline prices.

The drivers refused to work and just sat around their bus pool on Jl. Pegangsaan II in Cakung, Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta, because instead of the fare for their non-air conditioned (AC) buses being raised, it was cut from Rp 700 (9 U.S. cents) to Rp 500 per passenger, the same fare as for regular buses.

"This is not fair. The company has lowered the fares but we have to pay for the fuel with our own money and the company has raised the rental fees.

"Bus fares should have gone up to cover the increased gasoline and maintenance costs," Faadillah, one of the drivers, said.

Yesterday's strike involved Steady Safe buses on several routes, including Pulo Gadung-Kampung Rambutan, Kampung Melayu- Blok M and Pulo Gadung-Tanah Abang.

Company executive M. Siahaan told the drivers to end the strike while some of their representatives discussed the matter with the management.

But the drivers refused to do so and started yelling and screaming.

"All we want is fair treatment. We cannot survive with a rate of Rp 500 per passenger. Why do they make such a decision without having a meeting with us?" Agus, a 30-year-old driver, asked.

Siahaan told reporters that Steady Safe lowered the rate of non-AC buses because there would soon be a new grouping of such buses.

"There will be only two kinds of buses: air conditioned buses and regular buses," he said, refusing to elaborate further.

The strike, which started at about 9 a.m., left hundreds of passengers in Pulo Gadung bus station -- about two kilometers away from the Steady Safe bus pool -- stranded and police officers were soon deployed to control the situation.

When police arrived at about 10 a.m., the bus drivers still refused to work. They eventually agreed to go back to work at about noon after company representatives promised to solve the matter soon.

"Please... go back to work. This way nobody wins. We both lose the income and the passengers suffer," Siahaan said.

He said the company would discuss the matter with the Association of Public Land Transportation Owners (Organda) and the bus crews before making a final decision. (edt)