Timber workers on hunger strike to press for payment

Timber workers on hunger strike to press for payment

Rusman, Samarinda, East Kalimantan

At least nine of the thousands of striking timber workers in Samarinda began a hunger strike on Wednesday, to press their demands for their April and May salaries.

The hunger strikers have camped out in front of the main gate of the East Kalimantan governor's office here, after the workers earlier picketed in front of their company buildings. The strike began two weeks ago and on Tuesday they kidnapped two company executives and are still holding them hostage.

The workers mostly come from plywood companies, Kalimanis Plywood Industry (KPI) and Santi Murni Plywood (SMP).

Giartini, one of the hunger strikers, vowed that the hunger strike would continue until the workers' demands were met.

"The government must show an interest in the fate of the workers," she said.

The hunger strikers also include at least one prominent labor figure, Ismed Soeryo from the East Kalimantan Indonesian Labor Struggle National Front (FNPBI).

Before going on the hunger strike, they assembled at the governor's office at 10 a.m. local time and demanded a meeting with the governor.

A jostle ensued between the governor's security guards and the nine strikers who tried to push their way through. Two SMP employees reportedly fainted. They were not allowed to see the governor as the security men prohibited them from entering the compound.

The disgruntled workers explained that the hostage-taking and hunger strike would not have happened if the two Hong Kong-based timber companies located in Selili, Samarinda had paid the workers their salaries.

The companies have reportedly not paid salaries to over a thousand workers because the plywood business was severely depressed. Negotiations between the firm's management and the workers have been held, but no clear solution has been reached.

In a recent negotiation meeting between the workers' coordinating team and Wahyudi Manaf, a representative from PT KPI and PT SMP, the companies proposed that the workers would only be paid Rp 500,000 (US$58.00) per person, because the companies were short of money.

"In fact, the workers' salaries range from Rp 800,000 to Rp 1 million per month," said Benny Patty, one of the protesters.

In the meeting, it was then decided that the companies would pay Rp 500,000 to each worker, with the understanding that their salaries would eventually be paid in full.

The first part will be paid later this week, and further talks are scheduled to discuss the remainder of the money.

As of Wednesday, Wahyudi, the operations manager and his assistant Bonar Sianturi, were still being held hostage in KPI's human resources department office. Benny said they would only be freed when the workers' were paid all the money they were asking for, said Benny.

In an FNPBI press release, workers in the entire province were urged to strike en masse to demonstrate worker solidarity.

Ismed Soerya, the chairman of FNPBI and one of the hunger strikers, also lashed out at the foreign companies and accused his own government of colluding with them to oppress the workers.

"The people are still being oppressed by the economic and political systems practiced by autocrats who believe more in capital strength than the power of the people," Ismed explained.