'Warung Solidaritas' no ordinary foodstall

'Warung Solidaritas' no ordinary foodstall

Deni Putri, Contributor, Jakarta

Warung Solidaritas looks similar to other foodstalls. Its menu
also offers typical warung fare. What makes it different is that
it was established by chefs from the nearby Shangri-La hotel.

The foodstall has been temporarily set up on a two by five
meter site with wooden boards and a tarpaulin roof. It also has a
gerobak (food-cart) for cooking, four long wooden tables and
benches, which can accommodate 25 people, and a wooden cashier's
table.

Faced with these less than ideal conditions, the Solidaritas
has come up with a unique way of attracting customers and
satisfying its patrons.

It displays the flag of Serikat Pekerja Mandiri Shangri-La
(Shangri-La Independent Workers' Union), indicating the owner's
membership of the labor organization. The tent also bears a
written sign saying Warung Solidaritas Karyawan Shangri-La (the
Solidarity foodstall of the Shangri-La's workers).

Inside, there are pictures featuring employees on strike at
the Hotel Indonesia roundabout on Jl. Thamrin and in the House of
Representatives (DPR).

The foodstall, which is managed by 30 of the 579 Shangri-La
employees dismissed by the hotel, offers dishes typically found
in a roadside eatery but has given them unusual names, such as
Nasi Goreng Stop PHK (Stop Dismissal Fried Rice), Nasi Goreng
Sosis Kapitalis (Capitalist Sausage Fried Rice), Nasi Goreng Ikan
Asin Resolusi (Resolution Salted Fish Fried Rice), Nasi Goreng
Kambing Chaos (Chaos Goat Fried Rice), Mie Rebus Reformasi
(Reform Boiled Noodles), Kwetiauw Buruh (Workers' Fried Noodles),
Mie Goreng Solid (Solid Fried Noodles), Bihun Goreng Bersatu
(United Fried Rice Noodles) and Cap Cay Kompensasi (Compensation
stir-fried vegetables).

The beverages also have unique names including Komite
Perempuan (Women's Committee) Avocado Juice, Revolusi
(Revolution) Mango Juice, Nationalist's Soursop Juice, FSPM
(Indonesian Hotel Independent Workers Union Federation) Mixed
Fruit Ice and IUF (International Union of Food, Hotels and
Restaurants) Tomato Juice.

The managers of the foodstall, who have been running it since
Feb. 2001, want to publicize their demonstrations against the
hotel's management over the issue of compensation for their
dismissals.

Despite the presence of big name chefs formerly employed by
the Shangri-La, not all the items on the Solidaritas menu are
particularly delicious.

But the Nasi goreng sosis Kapitalis, Cap cay Kompensasi,
Kwetiauw Buruh, mango juice and lemon ice really tasted good.

The food prices are far cheaper than what they used to charge
at the hotel.

Nasi goreng Stop PHK is only Rp 5,500. Three other fried rice
dishes go for just Rp 7,500 each. Fried noodles are Rp 7,500
while cap cay is priced at Rp 6,500. Fruit juice prices range
from Rp 3,500 to Rp 4,500.

The prices listed on the one page menu include a 10% "tax",
which is apparently used to finance the demonstrations.

Located on Jl. KH. Mas Mansyur in front of the Batavia tower,
Central Jakarta, most of the foodstall's visitors are office
workers from the buildings along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Casablanca.
In a bid to serve its customers better, it even offers a delivery
service.

However, the food and beverages offered by the foodstall,
which is open 24 hours a day, lack variation, even though its
chefs are experienced and well-versed in cooking European and
Chinese food.

Diponggo, one of the Solidaritas staff, acknowledged that they
couldn't serve European or Chinese food due to the limited
cooking utensils available to them.

"We want to offer more varied menus but we don't have a
freezer. We hope we can add to our menu in the future," he said.

The foodstall's coordinator, Jojo Suharto, said mango and
tomato juices were the most popular beverages, while the goat and
sausage fried rice were the most-ordered food items.

Jojo, who had worked at the hotel for almost five years,
claimed that they could earn average daily net profits of Rp
250,000, some of which was used to finance the workers'
activities and to help the dismissed workers' families.

Warung Solidaritas:
Jl. K.H. Mas Mansyur, Central Jakarta
delivery service: 0817-112852.