Workers, management stick to their guns

JAKARTA (JP): Negotiations between the workers and management of PT Cometa Can Corp., a West Jakarta-based can factory, began yesterday, as the strike there entered its second day.

"We will stay on strike until management fulfills all our demands," said a female worker who asked to remain anonymous.

Worker representatives and the management of the company were involved in intensive, closed-door negotiations in an athletic hall of the Penjaringan Youth Center, North Jakarta, while workers waited in a parking lot outside.

Yesterday's negotiations, which were also attended by representatives of the All Indonesian Workers' Union (SPSI) and the Ministry of Manpower, dealt with six of the 18 worker demands.

As of yesterday afternoon, they agreed on only two points -- the provision of old age pensions and the inclusion of all workers in the government-run social and health insurance scheme called Jamsostek.

The negotiations almost broke down when some angry workers forced their way to the negotiation room to follow a police officer from behind.

The workers said the officer had violated their agreement with the management not to involve the military or police in the settlement of the labor dispute, and that once they got involved the workers would terminate negotiations.

Workers of PT Cometa Can Corp., a can factory which was established in 1976, began the strike in front of the factory's office at Pluit Muara Karang, West Jakarta.

The workers demanded that the company management provide workers with lunch and transport allowances and health insurance, in addition to the current the basic salary of Rp 3,800 (US$1.74) per day.

The workers said that the management had previously promised to fulfill some of their current demands.

Enny Agung, an executive of the company, confirmed that the company had previously agreed to several of the workers' demands in principle. He hastened to add, however, that it would be a matter of time before the management would be able to deliver them.

"They did not seem like they were willing to wait," Enny said.

Enny said that workers also demanded that the company provide a uniform for part time workers for free.

"However, there was a high level of turnover among part-time employees so we want them to pay for the uniform as part of a plan to keep them," Enny said.

The company produces cans for major brand names, such as Blue Band margarine, Khong Ghuan biscuit and Promina milk. (yns)