6 May, 2009Workers on strike for recognition of their collective bargaining agreement face police attacks and mass terminations.
INDONESIA: The situation for more than 700 members of IMF-affiliate Federasi Serikat Pekerja Metal Indonesia (FSPMI), on strike at PT Toshiba Consumer Products Indonesia, intensified yesterday as police and 30 hired thugs attacked strikers outside the company gates.
FSPMI members have been on strike since April 16 after the company refused to recognize the collective labour agreement signed both by the union and management. Toshiba Indonesia also fired 15 elected trade union leaders at the plant despite stern recommendations from the Indonesian government to withdraw threats of employment termination.
On April 24, the company sent a letter to all employees saying that those who take part in the strike action will be terminated. Since that time the company has shut down production and stopped health insurance coverage to all strike participants.
The IMF has been working closely with our affiliates in Japan and Indonesia to bring a resolution to the dispute, however despite these efforts local management in Indonesia is refusing to meet with FSPMI members.
The IMF and our affiliates have sent letters to Toshiba management in Japan and Indonesia as well as Indonesia's Minister of Manpower and Transmigration.
Workers on strike at Toshiba Consumer Products Indonesia are demanding that the company honours the collective labour agreement and registers it with the Indonesian government and that all fired workers are reinstated immediately and without sanction.
The IMF is calling on all affiliates to urge Toshiba to resolve this dispute quickly and fairly and to ensure that fundamental labour rights are protected and respected at all Toshiba worksites.
Send letters to:
Mr. A. Makino
Managing Director
PT. Toshiba Consumer Products Indonesia
EJIP Industrial Park Plot 5G
Cikarang Selatan - Bekasi 17550
Indonesia
T. +62 21 897 0462
FAX: +62 21 897 0465
Email: [email protected]
Mr. Erman Suparno
Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration
Email: [email protected]
Toshiba Corporation
FAX: +81 3 3456 1631
FSPMI
FAX: +62 21 841 3954
Email: [email protected]
IMF Southeast Asia and Pacific Office
Email: [email protected]