KAI?s workers to strike to demand subsidized fuel
Tuesday, November 22 2011 - 03:00 AM WIB
Workers? union of the state railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) warned they would go on strike early next month to demand the government to allow the company to use the subsidized fuel.
?We will carry out strikes for three hours starting 5 a.m to 8. a.m both in the passenger and freight trains in Java and Sumatra,? union chairman Sri Nugroho said as quoted by Kompas daily.
The trains have long been used for transport, including to transport cargoes such as coal in Kalimantan and Sumatra. The KAI has said that it would increase its locomotives in the country?s main coal producing areas to support the increase of mining production.
Sri said that the lack of subsidy cost national railway operator PT KAI Rp 400 billion in losses, since it had to purchase unsubsidized fuel at around Rp 9,000 per liter. (*)