Freeport workers start one-month long strike today

Workers of the Workers Union of PT Freeport Indonesia go ahead with their one-month long strike after negotiation between the union and the company?s board failed to reach a deal over pay raise. The strike is beginning today and reportedly would last until October 15

Virgo Salosa, the head of Freeport Workers Union, was quoted by Kontan daily as saying that around 8,000 Freeport workers started the strike from early morning. ?The strike goes ahead as the management did not offer solution as demanded by the workers,? said Virgo.

The workers asked the Freeport board to raise the workers? salary stated in the Mutual Work Agreement (PKB) for 2011-2013. However, the board rejected the workers? demand.

Virgo estimated that the strike could result in a potential loss of trillions of rupiah for Freeport. As a result of the workers? strike, Freeport?s gold and copper mining activities have stopped. Based on previous strike, said Virgo, one day of workers strike could mean potential loss of around Rp 200 billion.

Ramdani Sirait, spokesperson of Freeport, declined to comment over the strike plan.

Sudiro, a leader of the workers union, as reported earlier had said that the workers would gather at an open field in front of the Office Building I in Kuala Kencana between 7 am and 4 pm, and that total number of workers involved would be around 8,000. (*)