News online
Indonesian dockers’ rally over employer failure to honour agreement
30 July 2010
Some 800 dockers and activists staged a rally in Indonesia to demand that a major port operator honour a negotiated agreement.
The rally was led by the ITF-affiliated Serikat Pekerja Terminal Petikemas Koja (SPTPK Koja) and other unions, including the seafarers’ union Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia, and took place outside ministerial offices in Jakarta on 28 July. The unionists were calling for Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) and state company Pelindo 2, which jointly own the TPK Koja container terminal, to implement the terms of a four-point settlement that was negotiated in April last year. The workers’ pay and conditions are well below those enjoyed by employees of the neighbouring container terminal, Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT), which is also co-owned by HPH and Pelindo 2.
The workers are making a number of demands, including the same rate of pay and bonus system as awarded to their colleagues working in the JICT as well as management restructuring at TPK Koja.
On 27 July, ITF dockers’ section secretary Frank Leys wrote to both John Meredith, HPH group managing director, and Richard J Lino, Pelindo 2 president and director. He reminded them: “Although there is a slight difference in the share allocation, in essence JICT and TPK KOJA have the same owner, the same geographical location, same core business, tariff and operational system. Yet the terms and conditions of employment at TPK KOJA are far less favourable compared to JICT.”
He also told them: “We are monitoring this case closely and respectfully request that you use your influence to ensure that a positive outcome is reached and the agreement fully implemented.”
Back to current news online stories
|
view larger image
