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Indonesian national carrier withdraws dismissal threats following solidarity action
11 January 2006
Two trade union activists working for an Indonesian airline who faced the sack are set to return to work after the company withdrew its dismissal threats. The move follows a call by the ITF for solidarity action by affiliates over anti-union practices at the airline.
Last December, ITF affiliate Ikatan Awak Kabin Garuda Indonesia (IKAGI), representing Garuda International Airlines employees, informed the ITF of a number of attacks on members over past months. These included threats to dismiss two trade unionists, Mona Lapian and Yuli Winarko, for participating in union activities and the forced closure by the company of the IKAGI office during a dispute in August. Sanctions were also imposed on nine trade unionists in November resulting in wage cuts.
Letters of protest from ITF affiliates to the government and airline management, following a call for solidarity action by the ITF on 22 December, helped trigger a management turnaround; on 29 December Garuda Indonesia Chief Executive Officer Emirsyah Satar initiated negotiations with IKAGI during which the decision to dismiss Mona Lapian and Yuli Winarko was withdrawn. Both are to return to work mid-January.
The sanctions against the nine other IKAGI representatives and the re-opening of the IKAGI office are on the agenda for discussion at a later meeting with management.
“I'd like to say thank you to the ITF and affiliates who gave wholehearted support to IKAGI during our struggle to defend workers’ rights,” commented Zainudin Malik, IKAGI General Secretary.
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