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3 November, 2008
One of ICEM’s newest affiliates held a workshop in Bandung, Indonesia, 24-26 October, and keenly identified areas of growth for the dynamic trade union. Federasi Serikat Pekerja Pulp Dan Kertas Indonesia (FSP2KI) had 30 participants from 14 mill-level trade unions attend. Six of those unions are branches of FSP2KI, with the potential great for the union to increase its membership due to unions enthusiastic attendance by the others.
The workshop was sponsored by Svenska Pappers, the Swedish Pulp and Paper Workers’ Union, which has been working closely with the union. The conference heard presentations on the work of the ICEM, as well as work being done by Pappers by Bala Somahsundram, a leader in the Paper and Paper Products Manufacturing Employees’ Union of Malaysia.
From left, Malaysian Union Leader Bala Somahsundram; FSP2KI President Irzan Zulpakar; H.M. Mansyur; and FSP2KI Gen. Sec. Etin Rodiana
Indonesian paper, packaging, and converting trade union leaders also heard from H.M. Mansyur, chairman of the Indonesian Pulp and Paper Association (AKLI). He told delegates that 50% of Indonesian pulp production is exported, while that figure for paper products is 40%.
He also told of a massive new development coming – American-based International Paper Co.’s decision to build a 1.5 million tonne-per-year pulp mill, and development of 500,000 hectares of timberlands. The US$4 billion project will be undertaken in central Kalimantan on Bornea Island, Indonesia.
The conference included FSP2KI union activists from Indonesian mills of Asia’s biggest forest companies, including PT Riau Andalan mills, owned by Singapore-based holding group Asia Pacific Resources International (APRIL) and PT Lontar Papyrus’ Jambi Mill, owned by Pinto Deli Pulp and Paper. Potential affiliates consisted of workplace leaders from PT Indah Kiat’s three mills, which are 60% owned by Asia Pulp and Pacific (APP); and PT Kertas Nusantar, owned by Anugera Investment, an Indonesian company. Leaders from several other mills, packaging plants, and tissue operations also took part.
The trade unionists forged an agenda that includes insistence that employers negotiate with the respective workers’ representatives over any negative impact from the current global economic crisis; that FSP2KI study any ambiguities in its constitution; and that the union begin an aggressive reach-out at all Indonesian pulp and paper mills. FSP2KI also will seek paper industry data from the ICEM, including information on the use of hazardous chemicals and materials used in the paper industry.
Even with a global slowdown in pulp and paper, Indonesia’s pulp and paper industry is expected to grow by 4.1% in 2009. Exports of pulp and paper from the country expanded in the first half of 2008 to US$1.9 billion, compared to US$1.6 billion for the first six months of 2007.