Community group urges Badak NGL?s workers not to proceed with strike plan

An East Kalimantan community group has called on workers of liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer PT Badak NGL Co not to go on strike in their dispute with the company management, local daily Kaltim Post reported Friday.

?The workers? action could cause serious problems not only for Indonesia but also for the international community,? the paper quoted as saying Ismail Arwan, chairman of Mandar Polmas Association (KKMP), a community group from Bontang, East Kalimantan.

?Their threat to go on strike is groundless because their negotiations with the company management have not been held,? Ismail added.

Badak NGL?s trade union leaders said more than 1,000 workers from the company would go on strike if the company management refused to hold a meeting with them no later than June 16 to renew their Joint labor Agreement (PKB). The workers would come from Bontang, where Badak NGL operates an LNG plant, and surrounding areas.

The company management however insisted that October 30, 2003, and not June 16, was the deadline for the two sides to meet and renew their PKB. (*)