Tripatra's workers' plight

PT Tripatra's response (July 27) to Paul Keys' letter (July 23) on the injustices of its employee lock-out tactfully avoids mentioning the substance of the workers' grievances, nor does it mention the broken agreements from a company that has destroyed the livelihoods of 8,000 workers. And it distorts the legal matters of the dispute beyond any intelligible recognition.

The workers -- some have worked at the company for more than 20 years -- are seeking the job security and benefits of full- time employment. PT Tripatra hires and fires its staff in accordance with its five-year contract cycle with CalTex. They are fired and rehired at five-year intervals as "temporary" employees, and are never given the chance to accrue due seniority and job security. Yet Indonesian labor law sets the clear limit of two years on temporary jobs. Put simply: PT Tripatra skirts the law for the small savings of slashing employee entitlements.

Nengah Sujana's letter was completely erroneous in claiming that the strikers are disallowed by the Department of Manpower from using Manpower Law No. 3/1996. On April 29, a compensation settlement, derived from that provision, was signed between the Ministry of Manpower in Pekanbaru, CalTex, PT Tripatra and the Indonesian Prosperity Trade Union (SBSI). PT Tripatra has so far refused to honor its pledge.

Despite the company's claim to the contrary, precious little "good faith" from PT Tripatra has been on display in the dispute. I visited Riau on June 7, one day after the workers were fired, to appeal for a workable settlement. This unmistakable good-faith gesture was disregarded by the company, and I returned to Jakarta without meeting with the acting resident manager.

While in Riau I witnessed the strike up close, and -- despite PT Tripatra's contrary claims -- I can attest that 8,000 workers, the majority of the company's employees, are striking.

Moreover, PT Tripatra's letter to The Jakarta Post implies that SBSI has a political motive for the strike. On the contrary, the strike was an action of last resort, only taken when all reasonable appeals to good faith had broken down. Nevertheless, we will continue in earnest to press for a resolution that is amenable to all concerned.

MUCHTAR PAKPAHAN

General Chairman

SBSI, Jakarta