Airport workers staged srikes at five Indonesian airport Wednesday [7 May, 2008], the Jakarta Post reported today.
"The coordinated six-hour strikes hit
- Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan
- Frans-Kaisiepo Airport in Biak, Papua
- Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar (Ujung Pandang), South Sulawesi
- Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado, North Sulawesi; and
- Pattimura Airport in Ambon, Maluku
A labor union official was quoted as saying that the union planned more strikes if demands for improvement in airport worker pay, social security insurance and an end to outsourcing were not met, including a possible 12 hour strike on Thursday (today) and a 24 hour strike Friday. Military police reported assisting with airport operations at Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar.
The strikes caused delays at some airports, but there have not been any reports of cancelled flights so far.
Unfortunately, some of these airports are important hubs for divers travelling from Jakarta or Bali to Manado/Lembeh Strait, the Maluku area, and Derawan in Kalimantan. While Makassar airport is a transit hub on almost every domestic flight route from Bali or Jakarta to any destination in East Indonesia.
If we're lucky, the labor dispute will be settled soon and there will be effect on our travel. But if you are planning to transit hrough any of these airports this week or next, it might be prudent to check with our agent or operator for updated news until the disputes are fully resolved.
Frogfish
