Strike called after union plan thwarted

TANGERANG (JP): Some 400 workers at plastic bottle manufacturer PT Artha Manggala Mulia went on strike on Thursday, holding a rally on the grounds of the factory in the Curug district here to press their demands to set up their own branch of the All Indonesian Workers Association.

"Establishing the association is our right; why is the company blocking us," a worker shouted during the rally.

According to the workers, the company objected to the employees' plan to form the association and tried to force the workers into signing a letter stating that they would not establish the independent workers' association.

According to the workers, if they refused to sign the letter they would be fired.

The striking workers rejected management's offer to hold a dialog, deciding to disperse instead.

After the workers departed, the company's management met with representatives from the Tangerang office of the Ministry of Manpower.

Although the workers had originally lodged their complaint with the ministry's office, arguing that the association was a vital tool to fight for their protection and rights, the meeting was not attended by workers' representatives.

The company's executives were unwilling to comment on the case.

On Monday, some 4,500 employees at shoe factory PT Tae-Hwa Indonesia in Balaraja, went on strike and staged a noisy protest on the factory grounds to demand their Idul Fitri bonuses and holidays.

After a series of negotiations between workers' representatives and the company's management, nearly all of the workers' demands were met by the company, which had recently been awarded the ISO 9002 certificate.

According to the head of the company's human resources department, M. Jazuli, the company would give workers Idul Fitri bonuses equal to those received last year. Employees will receive the bonuses within the next two weeks.

"However, the size of bonuses will differ from one worker to the next, depending on how long they have been with the company," Jazuli said.

The bonus will equal 100 percent of the monthly salary for those who have worked at the company for one year, 225 percent those who have been with the company for two years and 325 percent for those who have worked at the company for three years or more, he said.

The company also agreed to increase the daily meal allowance from Rp 1,000 to Rp 1,500 and not to count the Idul Fitri holiday -- from Jan. 16 to Jan. 23 this year -- as part of the workers' total allocated holidays.

"We also promise to accommodate female workers with days off for menstruation leave," Jazuli added.

The protesters greeted management's decision with loud applause before peacefully dispersing. (41/ind)