Workers urge U.S. to lobby IMF on loans
Workers urge U.S. to lobby IMF on loans
JAKARTA (JP): More than 500 workers grouped in the
transportation sector trade union (SPTI) staged a demonstration
in front of the United States Embassy here yesterday, urging the
U.S. government to press the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to
immediately disburse pledged loans to help low-income
Indonesians.
The workers, mostly bus drivers and ship crew members, sang
patriotic songs as they held up banners urging the U.S. to take
steps to ensure that the loan move forward.
Under the watchful eye of dozens of police and military
personnel, the workers demanded to meet with the U.S. ambassador.
After intense negotiations, two embassy staff members agreed
to receive five representatives from the workers.
Ch. David, chairman of the trade union, said they were not
able to meet Ambassador Stapleton Roy, but were received by
Richard Gong, a United States Information Service director, and
Mark Hunter, the security attache.
"We lodged our petition and the embassy staff pledged to send
it to U.S. President Bill Clinton," he said.
Separately, over 100 workers of Masterina ceramic factory in
East Jakarta staged a sit-in protest at the Ministry of Manpower
here yesterday to protest their employer's reluctance to raise
wages.
"We will stay here until the management meets our demand,"
Burhanuddin, a worker representative, said.
He said the company's management refused to abide by an
agreement made after an initial strike last month which stated
that wages would be raised between 30 percent and 50 percent.
"In a tripartite negotiation which involved the ministry
following the first labor strike last month, the management
agreed to raise wages," he said.
Burhanuddin admitted that workers were already being paid in
accordance to the government-set monthly minimum wage of Rp
172,000, but pointed out that such a salary was not enough to
provide for the workers' daily necessities.
Sahat S., a staff member of the industrial relations
directorate at the ministry, said after receiving the workers'
representatives that his directorate would call on the company's
management to resume negotiations. (rms)