Striking bus drivers complain at City Council

JAKARTA (JP): About 100 striking S604 Metromini minibus drivers plying the Pasar Minggu-Tanah Abang route complained to the City Council yesterday about the presence of eight regular buses on the same route.

The drivers, who began their action Monday afternoon following the appearance of the new buses, demanded councilors revoke the license of the buses operated by the Andalan and Giri Indah transportation companies.

According to the protesters, the presence of the buses bearing the Metromini logo, has caused their income to fall by up to 80 percent.

"Usually we can get a daily net income of Rp 36,000 (US$13.58) but now we're only getting Rp 2,500 per day. And it's hard to catch up with the standard rental fee," said Faizor, one of the drivers.

The drivers are also complaining about the high illegal levies collected by local authorities on the streets.

"Everyday we have to pay Rp 5,200 at certain posts along the route," Faizor said.

The drivers are also charged Rp 20,000 per month at Pasar Minggu bus terminal.

"We have no idea what is done with the money," said M. Siagian, another driver.

Agus Pramono, a Metromini minibus owner, who joined the protesters yesterday, said they had become suspicious of the buses for using the Metromini logo.

The two-day strike staged by the Metromini drivers inconvenienced hundreds of passengers.

According to the protesters, the new regular buses' owners had not consulted with the Organization of City Land Transportation Owners or the Metromini drivers' association before beginning operations.

The drivers said they had filed complaints at the city's Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) but had got no response.

"We had to stage a strike because there is no other way to attract the authorities' attention to help us with these problems," said driver Djunaidi.

The representatives of the drivers met with Ali Wongso, Head of Commission D for development affairs and members Saud Rachman, Wien Ritola, Bukti Pandjaitan, Fatommy Astaari and Djonharro.

The councilors promised to discuss the problem soon in a meeting with related parties.

The strike ended at 1:00 p.m. yesterday after Ali convinced the drivers that their problems would be solved soon.

"It's necessary for the drivers to operate again after this meeting because we have to think about the people suffering from this strike," Ali said.

"Moreover, you (drivers) will lose your income. Think of your families, too," he reminded the protesters.

During the meeting, the drivers also raised the issue of the city's promise to use them as bus drivers once the operation of the minibuses is banned in the city.

"If our metromini route is to be revoked, we want to become regular bus drivers as promised," he said.

DLLAJ boss J.P. Sepang declined to comment, saying that his agency was still studying the issue.

Sepang had said earlier that Metromini drivers' strikes would not happen if drivers realized the public needed more buses.

"The agency can't accommodate only drivers' interests. We must also think of other people," Sepang said. (07)