Pertamina's contractors workers in S. Sumatra threaten to strike

At least 460 workers of contractors and subcontractors for state oil and gas company Pertamina's upstream operation West Pabrumulih-Pendopo, South Sumatra, have threatened to stage strike if Pertamina does not heed their demand to employ them as contract workers, Sriwijaya Post daily reported.

"If our demand is not realized by Pertamina headquarters or by the management of Pertamina Prabumulih-Pendopo, we will stage a mass strike," said Dwi Oktavianto, one member of a team representing workers in their negotiation with Pertamina.

Dwi, also the head of Pendopo branch of the Indonesian Labor Union (SPSI), said that the workers had presented their demand to Pertamina several times, but Pertamina have never given its responses.

The workers have even taken their case to local legislative councils, including Muaraenim regency legislative council, the South Sumatera provincial legislative council and local administrations, but to no avail.

He said all of them, the councils and also local administrations, support the workers' struggle for their cause, but the fact is that the negotiation between workers and Pertamina had not produced anything satisfactory.

Those workers are working with various contractors or subcontractors for Pertamina, including CV Arodia, CV Yunawati, CV Kenari and CV Jaya Murni ini.

Besides demanding improvement in their employment status, they also demanded improvement of welfare, especially improvement in wages and access to Pertamina's healthcare facilities for themselves and their families. (*)