[Kabar-indonesia] Freeport, Kiani deny firing unionists

[Joyo at aol.com]

The Jakarta Post
Thursday, November 2, 2006

Freeport, Kiani deny firing unionists

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Miner PT Freeport McMoran Indonesia and pulp and paper
company PT Kiani Kertas have denied a labor union's claim
they intimidated or dismissed workers who tried to organize.

The two firms are among 18 companies and two police
precincts reported recently to Manpower and Transmigration
Minister Erman Suparno by the Confederation of Prosperous
Indonesian Labor Unions (KSBSI) for their allegedly illegal
anti-union behavior.

Kiani Kertas spokesman Sukijo confirmed security authorities
in Tanjung Redep, East Kalimantan, had deployed 63 Police
Mobile Brigade officers to secure the company premises. The
move followed a rally to protest the management's rejection
of the recent establishment of a new KSBSI union at the
company.

"We have vital assets and we don't want the labor unrest to
disrupt operations. We need the security officers to ensure
the operation will continue," he told The Jakarta Post by
phone.

More than 100 workers staged a demonstration Monday to
protest the management's rejection of the union at the
company and the dismissal of seven activists.

However, Sukijo said no unionists had ever been dismissed
from the factory. The management had never intimidated or
dismissed workers who wanted to set up a union, he said.

"The workers have the right to unionize but they are
required to comply with the law in exercising their rights,"
he said.

A majority of more than 1,300 workers employed in the
factory and its industrial forests have joined the forestry
sector Confederation of All-Indonesian Workers Unions
(KSPSI), which has been the single partner with the
management in negotiations to review their collective
contracts.

PT Freeport spokesman Mindo Pangaribuan said management had
never prohibited employees from setting up unions. The
company had involved the KSPSI in negotiations to renew
collective labor agreements, he said.

Freeport, a United States-based copper and gold mining
company, employs more than 9,000 Indonesian and foreign
workers at its Grassberg mine in Timika, Papua.

The union has also brought the cases to the labor court.

Law No. 21/2001 on workers and labor unions prohibits the
management from intimidating and dismissing workers for
their activism. It carries a maximum five-year jail sentence
and a maximum fine of Rp 500 million against individuals or
corporations violating the law.

The Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) confirmed it
had received many complaints from labor unions about
employers rejecting the establishment of new unions in their
companies.

Apindo secretary general Djimanto, however, said union
leaders often confused legitimate dismissals with unlawful
ones.

Recent cases of workers' rights violations as reported by
KSBSI

No. Company Location Victim

1. PT Freeport McMoran Timika, Papua 1 unionist dismissed

2. PT Dahana, Berau E. Kalimantan unionists transferred

3. PT Pangan Sari Utama Sorong, Papua 98 workers intimidated

4. Security authorities Pasir regency unionists intimidated

5. PT Rukun Tripilar West Java unionists dismissed

6. Army officials Pasuruan intimidation

7. PT S-4 Dumai Riau intimidation

8. Perum PPD Jakarta 3,000 members intimidated, unpaid

9. PT Mayasari Bhakti Jakarta 7 unionists laid off

10.PT Mitra Surya Eratama Tangerang 40 workers dismissed

11.PT Inti Kimiatama Perkasa Medan 3 unionists dismissed

12.PT Milan Indotex Jakarta unionists not registered with
Jamsostek

13. PT Meindo Elang Indah Balikpapan SBSI units excluded
from collective bargaining

14. PT Sumatra Sarana Sekar Sakti Medan rejection by
management of SBSI unit

15. PT Bara Jaya Utama E. Kalimantan Workers intimidated by
hoodlums

16. PT Karet Alam Aceh unionist dismissed

17. CV Salute, Sukoharjo C. Java nine unionist reprimanded

18. PT Inti Kimiatama Medan rejection of SBSI

19. Berau Police E. Kalimantan unionists intimidated

20. PT Kiani Kertas E. Kalimantan seven unionists dismissed

Source: SBSI

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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