Freeport Workers Go on Strike for a Month Starting from May Day

TEMPO.CO, Timika - Thousands of Freeport Indonesia’s workers in Mimika, Papua, are going on a strike that will last for a month from May 1 to 30, 2017, following a deadlocked negotiation with the company’s management.

Yafet Panggala, head of the organization unit at the Chemical, Energy and Mining Workers Union (SP-KEP) of Freeport Indonesia, said on Monday in Timika that the strike commencement coincided with the International Workers Day, which is also known as May Day.

“We waited until 12 a.m. last night for the company’s good faith to listen to our demands. But it didn’t happen and there’s no deal. Therefore, our letter notifying about the strike, which was sent to the company and government earlier, is valid,” Yafet said.

According to Yafet, employees of contractors and Freeport’s privatization companies will participate under 14 Work Units in the strike on May 9, 2017 as stated in a strike letter sent to the Mimika Manpower, Transmigration and Public Housings Agency.

Yafet asserted that Freeport’s Workers Union will continue to be in communications with the company’s management. Yafet guaranteed that the strike will cease if there is a deal with the management.

“The strike is not our goal, but it’s a mean of our struggle. So, there should not be an allegation saying that we want to go on strike all the time. It’s not like that,” Yafet explained.

Yafet revealed that the union and Freeport have not reached an agreement related to the disciplinary actions against workers who violate the Cooperation Agreement and the Industrial Relationship Guidelines (PKB-PHI) 2015-2017.

ANTARA