Union urges Freeport to respond to aspiration of workers to avoid strike

By Bambang Armaja

President of the Indonesian Labor Union Confederation (KSPI) Andi Gani Nena Wea said on Monday that he was hopeful that the planned talks between workers and management of PT Freeport Indonesia in May will find the best solution to help avoid the repeat of strikes which had paralyzed production in the past.

Freeport Indonesia is the local unit of global miner Freeport McMoran Copper and Gold, which operates a giant gold and copper mine in Papua.

"I have talked with PT Freeport worker union there (in Papua). We will soon have a discussion to find the best formula for the settlement (of the dispute) in order to avoid strikes like in the past," Nena Wea told Petromindo.com at the State Palace after meeting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Monday.

Nena Wea hopes that Freeport would respond to the demands of the workers particularly with regard to salary issue during the upcoming meeting, expected to take place next week.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak