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Issue No. 143 | 05 July 2002 |
Bad Bosses
Interview: Media Magnet Bad Boss: Abbott's Heroes Technology: All in the Family International: New Labour's Cracks Economics: Virtuality Check History: Necessary Utopias Poetry: Let Me Bring Love Review: How Not To Get It Together Satire: NZ, UK Added to Australia�s Migration Zone
Revealed: The Evidence Cole Won�t Touch WorkCover to Set Up Crimes Unit Electricians Oppose Family-Busting Conditions Blue-Collar Blokes Back Mat Leave Murdoch Telegraphs Contracts Push Abbot Changes Rules for �Employer Advocate� Funding Cuts Drives Academics Mad Star City Casino Strike On The Cards Chifley Planners Lose Benefits Qantas Staff Sick of Shivering Regional Councils Call Jobs Summit Kiwi Ex-Pats Targeted for Poll Push Shangri-La Workers Still Fighting
The Soapbox The Locker Room Bosswatch Week in Review
Buggering the Bush The Great Giveaway Down and Out Why I hate Telstra
Labor Council of NSW |
News Shangri-La Workers Still Fighting
The ILO has called on the Indonesian Government "to take the necessary steps to ensure that the allegations of union-busting tactics on the part of the employer, particularly as concerns the condition of re-employment upon resignation from the union, are thoroughly investigated and if they prove to be true, to take the appropriate measures to remedy an effects of the anti-union discrimination for the workers and the union concerned." Unions here in Australia have given active support to the hotel workers in Jakarta during this long campaign. Unions have hosted delegations of workers from the Jakarta Shangri-la hotel visiting union members in Melbourne and Sydney; the ACTU leadership have sent strongly worded protest notes to the Indonesian government and to the hotel owners; protest rallies have been organised outside the Indonesian embassy and consulates; an LHMU Hotel Union organiser has visited the strikers in Jakarta to show support and we have provided financial support for the workers involved in this long dispute. The Shangri-La Jakarta Hotel is part of an Asia-Pacific hotel chain owned by one of the richest men in Asia, Mr Robert Kuok, who is regularly listed in the business magazine Forbes as one of the world's top 100 billionaires. The fundamental issue at the heart of the conflict is clear: Indonesia's sham industrial relations tribunal authorized the firing of 600 union members in May 2001 following the closure of the hotel and the lockout of the entire unionised workforce. On March 26 this year the State Administrative High Court in Jakarta ruled, in an appeal case brought by the hotel workers' union that the mass sackings were illegal, thereby overturning the industrial tribunal decision authorizing the hotel to fire union members. But in June 2002 this court decision has still not been acted upon - as the employer twists and turns with excuses about why they will not act. The Indonesian hotel workers continue to hold regular rallies and demonstrations at the hotel and other venues. They are determined to fight for their rights, for the reinstatement of the dismissed workers, and for recognition of their union. They continue to be attacked by scurrilous, at times violent methods. As the ILO was meeting in Geneva, union members received anonymous letters implying that the union was seeking to destroy Indonesia's economy and sabotage the tourism sector. The union immediately called a press conference to deny the coordinated smear campaign, emphasizing the peaceful and democratic nature of their principled struggle for democratic rights. The tenacious fight for union rights at the Jakarta Shangri-La has won widespread international respect and admiration for the workers, who continue to fight against powerful opponents. The conflict has become the most visible and best-publicized industrial dispute in Indonesia, with important implications for the country and the region. > Australian union activists can act now, and again show their support of the Shangri-La hotel workers. Demand the re-instatement of these workers by clicking here. and filling out this protest form to Mr Robert Kuok, the owner of the Shangri-La hotel chain. Read more about the Shangri-La hotel dispute You can read more articles about this dispute and get a sense of the history of this dispute by clicking here.
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