Laid off workers of PT SMJ confiscate 17 office vehicles
Tuesday, May 9 2000 - 04:30 AM WIB
At least 340 laid-off workers of PT Sumber Mitra Jaya (SMJ), one of state coal mining company PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam's partners, confiscated 17 office vehicles because of the lengthy settlement on their dismissals, the Republika daily reported on Tuesday.
Nur Kholis, a lawyer of the Palembang office of the Legal Aid Institute, admitted about the confiscation. "I've received information that the laid-off workers confiscated the 17 vehicles Because of the lengthy settlement of their dismissals," he said in Palembang on Monday.
The confiscation started on May 3 by deflating tires of 12 office vehicles, including buses, trucks and pick-ups, parked at the BDN Tanjungenim field.
They continued their action on May 7 so that the number of the vehicles they confiscated reached 17. They said they hold the vehicles until the company meets all the workers' rights.
"We do this to demand our rights. We want the company to be serious to settle the company's problems with us as soon as possible," one of the laid-off workers said. (*)