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20 December, 2000Following the dismissal of unionised workers at CB&I in Indonesia, Dutch union organises meeting with the parent company.
INDONESIA/NETHERLANDS: The IMF-affiliated CNV BedrijvenBond, in the Netherlands, has intervened on behalf of the Indonesian metalworkers' union Lomenik-SBSI with the management of the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company NV (CB&I), the Dutch parent company of a large engineering and (steel) construction firm.
According to the CNV BedrijvenBond, the CB&I-Cilegon -- the Indonesian branch of the CB&I -- decided last summer to break with the trade union movement and dismissed 25 of its 200 employees, in part because they were trade union members. Since then, the company has refused all contact with the Lomenik-SBSI, which represents more than half the employees at CB&I-Cilegon.
Finally, on December 15, following pressure from the CNV BedrijvenBond, discussions took place between a representative for the Indonesian trade union and the management of the Dutch company. A spokesman for the CNV BedrijvenBond said they expected the CB&I NV "to urge their branches to respect the internationally recognised rights of employees. That means that Indonesian employees can also have their collective interests represented by a trade union entering into consultation with the management."
The CNV BedrijvenBond reported that discussions revealed the management of the parent company did not have the same information available as the CNV BedrijvenBond. The CB&I NV indicated its express wish to observe Indonesian laws, and it was agreed the company would try to restore normal social dialogue between its Indonesian management and the trade union.
The CNV BedrijvenBond will keep track of any progress in the situation in Indonesia.
According to the CNV BedrijvenBond, the CB&I-Cilegon -- the Indonesian branch of the CB&I -- decided last summer to break with the trade union movement and dismissed 25 of its 200 employees, in part because they were trade union members. Since then, the company has refused all contact with the Lomenik-SBSI, which represents more than half the employees at CB&I-Cilegon.
Finally, on December 15, following pressure from the CNV BedrijvenBond, discussions took place between a representative for the Indonesian trade union and the management of the Dutch company. A spokesman for the CNV BedrijvenBond said they expected the CB&I NV "to urge their branches to respect the internationally recognised rights of employees. That means that Indonesian employees can also have their collective interests represented by a trade union entering into consultation with the management."
The CNV BedrijvenBond reported that discussions revealed the management of the parent company did not have the same information available as the CNV BedrijvenBond. The CB&I NV indicated its express wish to observe Indonesian laws, and it was agreed the company would try to restore normal social dialogue between its Indonesian management and the trade union.
The CNV BedrijvenBond will keep track of any progress in the situation in Indonesia.