SPSI Welcomes Dismissal of 58 Freeport Staffers: Union Activist

Timika, Papua (Antara) - The dismissal of 58 staffers by Freeport management has met the aspiration of field workers, an All-Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI) activist said here Thursday. "The dismissals are not the union's right, but the field workers' will. If they have made the decision, the union will recommend it. We are just the mouthpiece for the workers," Sudiro stated. Speaking to Antara about the matter, Sudiro, chairman of the SPSI's Chemical, Energy and Mining Division of PT Freeport Indonesia, said the dismissal of 58 staffers from their structural positions in the mining company was the aspiration of workers. On Wednesday (Oct 29) night, Head of Mimika District Eltinus Omaleng facilitated a meeting between the union's representatives and those of the managements of PT Freeport Indonesia, PT Kuala Pelabuhan Indonesia (KPI) and PT Puncak Jaya Power (PJP). They discussed the threat issued by the unions of the three companies to go on a month-long strike starting from November 6 to December 6, 2014. The meeting decided to follow up four points that workers had demanded when meeting with the Freeport McMoRan CEO, James Robert Moffet. Sudiro emphasized that the unions' threat to organize a strike was not a 'bluff' considering the large number of workers in the three companies, including PT Freeport Indonesia in Tembagapura. If PT Puncak Jaya Power (PJP) is in charge of power supply, PT Kuala Pelabuhan Indonesia handles matters related to transportation while Freeport is responsible for production mining, he said. Sudiro remarked that the union representatives' meeting with James Robert Moffet, which is due to be held in Jakarta on Thursday night or Friday, will end in a "win-win situation" for all parties. "We expect a win-win situation for both companies and workers and also for indigenous communities living around mining sites," he noted.