Workers strike worsens at KPC mining site

JAKARTA (JP): At least 150 protesting workers have taken control of vital mining facilities at PT Kaltim Prima Coal's mine in Sanggata regency, East Kalimantan.

The KPC representative in Jakarta, Bambang Susanto, said the workers arrived and took control of several important production facilities at the site after the police expelled their colleagues, who had occupied the company's main mining area.

"The workers were first expelled from the site, but they later returned with their friends who outnumbered the police officers," Bambang told The Jakarta Post by phone.

He said KPC, a subsidiary of Australian mining giant Rio Tinto, was still unable to resume operation, as the workers had occupied one of the company's processing sites and a fuel station since June 15.

Bambang said the company was losing Rp 3 billion (US$348,837) each day because of the strike.

The strike started on June 14, with workers demanding a 15 percent salary increase, among other things.

Bambang said that on the first day all 150 workers staged a protest at the mining site, but only a handful remained until the police arrived.

He said the police took the initiative to drive out the workers from the mining site, after the Regional Committee for the Settlement of Labor Disputes (P4D) ruled that the strike was illegal.

"But about one or two hours later the workers were back with their friends and forced the police to retreat," Bambang said.

He could not tell whether a second attempt by the police would follow.

He said local residents had expressed support for the company, but he voiced concern that locals could take matters into their own hands.

"They've made a statement about forcing the workers out of the site," he said.

Furthermore, he said if the company failed to meet clients' demand for coal, it could lose its credibility.

He said KPC was considering declaring a force majeure and withdrawing from the operation if the strike continued.

Coal deposits at the site could be mined for another 20 years.

"This is a matter of principal, if we once yield to the workers' demands there is no guarantee that they won't seek another raise," he said.(bkm)