*IBRAHIM ISA'S FOCUS: *
*Wednesday, May 15, 2013*
*-----------------------*
** * **
*LABOUR UNIONS *
*TAKING THE MILITANT WAY*
** * **
*--- Taking the Militant Way*
*--- Workers Commemorate May Day*
*--- May Day, Not Mayday*
*--- Marsinah's Unfulfilled Dream*
*--- Workers Need MoreThan a Holiday on May Day *
** * **
Said Iqbal: Taking the militant way
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, May 01 2013,
*(Courtesy of Said Iqbal)*
With his charismatic leadership, Said Iqbal, the chairman of the
Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI) undoubtedly convinced
other labor unions to hold a national labor action.
The workers will still go on strike on Wednesday in observance of May
Day, despite a recent meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at
the Presidential Palace.
Iqbal has already checked with organizing committees in the regions. At
least a million workers are set to rock millions more in Jakarta and
other cities in North Sumatra, Riau Islands, West Java, Central Java and
East Java.
"The national strike will be a reminder to tycoons and the regime. It is
a necessity because justice will not come down from the sky but must be
fought for," he told The Jakarta Post recently.
The strike, organized by several confederations grouped under the
Indonesian Labor Union Council (MPBI), has won support from other unions
and civil society groups in their efforts to reform the employment and
remuneration policies.
Iqbal, also a member of the National Tripartite Forum and the National
Wage Committee, gave a nod to the importance of militancy, not
extremism, amid the deadlocked negotiations between employers and the
government. "A strong labor union movement can be an agent of change to
lift up the economic livelihood of workers."
"Labor unions have forcibly taken the militant way because other ways
and roads to settle unresolved major labor issues have been closed down."
Labor relations deteriorated between 2011 and 2013, as hundreds of
thousands of workers have staged national strikes each year. The ensuing
chaos has led regional heads to increase local minimum wages
significantly.
Union organizers have also launched a sweeping movement against 14 of
122 companies that have attempted to introduce outsourcing for part of
their core businesses in Bekasi and Cikarang, West Java.
The movements, which have included paralyzing blockades of strategic
state assets such ports and toll roads, have sparked strong protests
from executives, since they took place under the nose of security guards.
Iqbal, who claimed he was still working as a manager at PT Panasonic
Health (PHCI) in Cibitung, said that he was questioned three times by
the National Intelligence Agency (BIN). He told agents that he was true
lover of the state ideology, Pancasila, to counter charges that he was
left-wing socialist or a Communist.
"We are fighting just for a little justice. Our struggle is to have
employers provide better jobs and pay a decent wage to workers amid good
economic growth of six percent. Workers will demand nothing if the
country is in a deep economic downturn."
Iqbal said that unions were fighting for better remuneration and for the
implementation of the national healthcare scheme by January 2014, and
were demanding that the government drop plans to raise subsidized fuel
prices for private cars on fears of follow-on increases for in the price
of basic commodities and rental prices.
To avoid prolonged industrial conflict, local executives should learn
from Japan, South Korea and US and bargain with unions as equals, Iqbal
said.
"Executives should bear in mind that workers have great solidarity and
will remain loyal if management sticks to transparency, accountability
and equal partnership in industrial relations," he said.
The way Iqbal has led the Federation of Indonesian Metal Worker Unions
(FSPMI) and the KSPI has made him a strong candidate for the prestigious
Ebee Elizabet Award given by the government of the Netherlands.
Previously the Netherlands Labor Union (FNV) brought the story of
Iqbal's militancy to the big screen, hoping that a film about him would
inspire Dutch union members.
Iqbal, born in Jakarta in 1968 and graduating as an engineer from the
University of Indonesia, conveyed his thanks to Panasonic Group boss
Rachmat Gobel, who has allowed him and three other organizers to take an
active part in the union movement while working at the company.
"[Rahmat] sets a good example as to what business tycoons should do to
create harmonious industrial ties and maintain worker loyalty and
productivity," Iqbal said.
On mushrooming labor unions, Iqbal said that, based on lessons that his
has learned from the establishment of the International Free Trade Union
(ICFTU) in Europe and the merger of the AFL-CIO in the United States, he
has an obsession to merge the nation's 98 major labor unions to offer a
powerful united front in negotiations with employers and the government.
"Aside from the merger issue, the labor unions should find common ground
and objectives for workers. They have to stay independent, but not
neutral because they take workers' side. They must be free from
political intervention from the outside and must forge strong political
bargains to fight for their common interests," he said.
According to Iqbal, labor unions should not be elitist and should rely
on financing from members to cover their operations. "The FSPMI and KSPI
have actively supported industrial strikes because they collect Rp 4
billion [US$412,000] and Rp 200 million annually respectively from their
members' monthly dues."
Iqbal, who unsuccessfully ran as a legislative candidate for the
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) in 2009, confirmed that he no longer had
an obsession to become a politician and would dedicate his life to his
career at Panasonic, labor unions and his family.
* * *
Workers Commemorate May Day
The Jakarta Post | May 02 2013,
International Workers Day, or May Day as it is more popularly called,
was commemorated differently across the archipelago on Wednesday,
ranging from entertaining performances to street rallies demanding
improved working conditions and wages.
In Pekanbaru, Riau province, local workers and those from surrounding
regencies including Siak and Kampar gathered at Politeknik Caltex Rumbai
Square to watch an art performance and to participate in various
traditional games.
The same fanfare was also evident in Dumai city, where workers held
social activities and strolled along PT Pelindo Dumai's Pier D. Local
unions had agreed not to stage rallies but instead organize positive
activities, such as donating to workers' families or orphanages.
"This is our way of showing joy for the raise in the province's sectoral
minimum wage [UMS]," said the Riau coordinator of the Federation of
Indonesian Prosperity Trade Unions (FSBSI), Patar Sitanggang, referring
to an 8.6 percent wage hike.
Workers in other regions protested on the streets. In Batam, Riau
Islands, sweeps by unions to force workers to take part in rallies
prompted engineering and construction company PT McDermott to send home
its 3,000 workers, some of whom joined protestors at Alun-Alun Engku
Putri Square.
In Palembang, South Sumatra, workers demanded the government ban
outsourcing that disadvantaged workers and urged the Indonesian
Employers Association (Apindo) to withdraw its challenge against
province's minimum wage (UMP) at the Palembang State Administrative
Court (PTUN).
In Yogyakarta, workers distributed flowers to female manual workers. "We
expect a wage increase to meet our daily needs," said Tinah, one of the
workers, adding that she usually worked from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. and earned
a daily average of Rp 30,000 (US$3.09).
In Samarinda, East Kalimantan, workers called for better work safety and
demanded local administrations force companies to implement the health
and work safety program.
In Palu, Central Sulawesi, non-governmental organizations and workers
grouped under Central Sulawesi People's Struggle Front staged a rally to
demand the government revoke the licenses of recalcitrant oil palm
plantation companies and those without environmental impact analysis
(Amdal) documents.
In Semarang, Central Java, workers marched on the city's main streets,
rejecting fuel price increases and demanding decent wages and a ban on
outsourcing.
Separately, journalists in the city urged media companies to pay more
attention to the welfare of their journalists, especially those working
as contributors and correspondents in the regions.
Protest coordinator Arif Nugroho said contributors and correspondents
received low wages. The same call was made by dozens of journalists in
Bandung, West Java.
Alliance of Independent Journalists' (AJI) Bandung chairman Zaky Yamani
said many mass media outlets in the city violated the law.
"They pay their journalists less than the city minimum wage, lower than
others working in other fields, despite the fact that their jobs is high
risk while at the same time their companies do not give them health and
accident insurance," Zaky said.
* * *
May Day, not Mayday
The Jakarta Post, Editorial , May 01 2013,
Today, the world, including workers in the nation's major cities and
industrial centers, are commemorating May Day. Jakarta's residents are
bracing themselves and hoping that the congestion will not be too bad;
although memories of previous May Day rallies blocking toll-road
entrances remain fresh.
*Union leaders have warned of "1 million" protesters on Jakarta's
streets alone on Wednesday, if the government shows no sign of granting
the unions' wishes --- such as ending the cheap labor policy and abusive
outsourcing practices, and canceling any plan to raise fuel prices. *
Employers have said such demands are unrealistic, arguing that the
government will continue the subsidies for low-income people once the
price of gasoline is increased. But workers say only scrapping the
fuel-price hike will enable them to avoid the usual skyrocketing
commodity prices that accompany every price increase of vital goods.
*Despite the arduous process of seeking common ground between workers
and employers, it is clear that the nation's estimated 120 million
workers need a clear voice to represent their demands to employers.
*Recently the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) met with
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, requesting among other things that
the government verifies the labor unions so they would have a clearer
understanding of who they should be talking to. True, the post-Soeharto
years have seen a mushrooming of unions to the point where it can be
confusing even for the workers themselves; workers can --- at least in
theory --- choose a union in a specific sector, such as the metal
workers' or bus drivers' unions, or one affiliated to their personal
political party or religion. Other union members, however, have been
labelled preman or hoodlums.
Whoever leads the unions, employers have reiterated their concerns about
the lack of legal certainty; indeed, a number of mayors and regents have
backed down and changed local ordinances on the regional minimum wage
increases, a measure that is feared will set a precedent for future wage
decisions.
For their part, workers do not see any relevance in verifying unions
with their demands, maintaining that the demands will remain the same
even if the hoodlums are identified and separated from the legitimate
workers. Strikes, they say, are a last resort, with talks having almost
collapsed regarding a remuneration system that they regard as fairer
compared to the current "cheap labor" policy, and other demands.
Beyond the detested traffic congestion, people rarely get a close look
at the lives of the country's workers. What they mostly see is the
vibrant "informal sector", whose workers and owners are engaged in a
wide range of economic activities throughout the day and night. However,
people do not witness the daily toil of workers behind factory doors ---
whose complaints are only rarely expressed if they can participate in
protest rallies.
The problem is that despite the rowdy and occasionally intimidating
unions, workers have little bargaining power precisely because of the
informal sector, which is estimated to make up two-thirds of the
workforce and whose workers are labelled "underemployed" because of the
low income they earn despite their long working hours.
Workers' unions have seen the result of their clout, with so many mayors
and regents changing agreements reached with employers over the annual
minimum wage. However, this affects only those few million workers in
the formal sector, raising questions as to the effectiveness of the unions.
Their strategy must take into account the majority of Indonesian workers
who do not expect any part of the labor policy to benefit them.
If the rallies do prove to be a headache for many of us, it would at
least be worthwhile to know they were held for the sake of the majority
of Indonesian workers. Otherwise, the unions will urgently need to
revamp their strategy or risk becoming merely loud, but not all that
relevant.
Marsinah's Unfulfilled Dream
The Jakarta Post,Editorial, May 08 2013,
Over the weekend 34 young workers finally regained their freedom, after
being forced to work for two years at a factory in Tangerang, Banten.
Police are still investigating the treatment of the men as it is alleged
they were forced to work without pay, were crammed into a single bedroom
and were subjected to torture.
This appears to be one isolated case that the police will hopefully
resolve. Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said investigators
would probe allegations that military and police personnel were involved
in the case. The perpetrators may be charged under the Criminal Code for
the abuse.
A thorough investigation and trial to hold perpetrators accountable
would be an achievement in this nation. Though it is just one case in
one of the country's major industrial areas, resolving it would at least
symbolize a gesture to end impunity, at least on the factory floor.
*Today Indonesia remembers another unresolved case, hidden deep in the
closet --- the death of activist Marsinah on May 8, 1993. This case, in
Sidoardjo, East Java, is now 20 years old and, thus, the case has
expired. Two managers from her watch factory were convicted but alleged
perpetrators from the Sidoarjo military command never reached court.*
*Marsinah was among the workers who led a protest against the management
and the military command for abusing workers, following their demands
for better pay and work conditions.
*
Activists today are demanding an official Marsinah Day while others
earlier suggested moving International Workers Day, in Indonesia, to May
8 to honor her struggle.
The protest was held at the height of the New Order's power, where close
collaboration between the management and the local military were the
rule. As a woman Marsinah suffered even more --- an autopsy revealed she
was sexually assaulted and her inner organs were severely damaged.
Subsequent leaders promised to reopen the case but with the passing of
today this is no longer possible.
*
Sweeping cases like Marsinah under the carpet maintains the legacy of
impunity and continued abuse against vulnerable citizens because no one
gets punished.
*
The Tangerang case also opens our eyes to the unmentioned practice of
slavery-like treatment within the safe borders of our country. To
improve the condition of servants, for many years activists have pushed
for the domestic workers law, unfortunately, so far, it has been
unsuccessful.
An anti-slavery law is needed for Indonesian employers, who think
nothing of having lowly paid maids at their beck and call.
*Marsinah, at 24 years old, demanded the recognition of workers as
humans. The least Indonesians owe to her is to ensure the end of slavery
in the country.*
** * **
*Workers Need MoreThan a Holiday on May Day***
Margareth S. Aritonang, The Jakarta Post, May 01 2013,
Labor activists have applauded the government's decision to make May 1 a
national holiday starting next year but they called on the government to
better uphold the rights of workers in the country.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected to officially proclaim
May Day a national holiday on Wednesday. Chairman of the Confederation
of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI) Said Iqbal said the plan was just the
first step in a long journey to improve the lives of workers in the country.
"After more than 10 years, the government will finally establish
International Workers Day as a national holiday. It is of course
symbolic because making it a national holiday would not directly improve
the welfare of Indonesian workers. Nonetheless, it is important to show
that the state actually recognizes the labor movement in this country,"
Iqbal told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
He said that the holiday would not affect workers' productivity. "I
believe that on the contrary it will encourage workers to work harder
because they will feel that their existence is recognized," Iqbal said.
Separately, member of the House of Representatives Rieke Diah Pitaloka
of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) urged the
government to take immediate action to improve the lives of workers and
not just stop at making May Day a national holiday.
"For one thing, the government should enforce the law against errant
employers so that they will think twice before doing anything wrong to
workers," Rieke said.
Rieke, who lost her bid for the West Java governorship recently, also
urged Yudhoyono to prod his Democratic Party into supporting bills that
would promote the rights of workers. "This will prove that the President
doesn't only aim at polishing his or his party's image approaching the
election. Prove that you actually care about workers," Rieke said.
Workers unions, including the KSPI, are set to stage rallies across
Indonesia, protesting against, among other issues, cheap labor, union
busting and the government's plan to increase fuel prices, which they
claim will cause hardship for the country's workers.
* * *
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