With the strike by thousands of workers continuing, Freeport management has hired a security company Securicor to harass and intimidate the workers. The workers have not conceded, and the strike has gained support from many unions and political organisations in Indonesia. Freeport has also been alleged of donating millions of dollars to the Indonesian military that has been engaged in human rights abuses in West Papua.
The workers are continuing to demand a wage increases to US$12 per hour, eight times their current pay rate of US$1.50 per hour. The workers argue that they are as skilled, as productive, and they face as many dangers as their fellow Freeport miners in North and South America, so they want to get closer to wage parity. The company is refusing to negotiate a meaningful wage rise and has been hiring scabs. Indonesian police have been forcing miners to go back to work. The All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI) that has organised the strike actions since 15 September asks unions around the world for solidarity actions. Download leaflet here.
With the strike by thousands of workers continuing, Freeport management has hired a security company Securicor to harass and intimidate the workers. The workers have not conceded, and the strike has gained support from many unions and political organisations in Indonesia. Freeport has also been alleged of donating millions of dollars to the Indonesian military that has been engaged in human rights abuses in West Papua.
The workers are continuing to demand a wage increases to US$12 per hour, eight times their current pay rate of US$1.50 per hour. The workers argue that they are as skilled, as productive, and they face as many dangers as their fellow Freeport miners in North and South America, so they want to get closer to wage parity. The company is refusing to negotiate a meaningful wage rise and has been hiring scabs. Indonesian police have been forcing miners to go back to work. The All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI) that has organised the strike actions since 15 September asks unions around the world for solidarity actions. Download leaflet here.
