A branch of ICEM Indonesian affiliate FSP-KEP (SPSI), the Trade Union of Chemical, Energy, and Mine Workers, ended an eight-day strike on 13 July against US-based Freeport-McMoRan at the Grasberg copper and gold mine in eastern Papua province on New Guinea Island. Some 10,000 of the mine’s 18,000 workers downed tools on 4 July after management refused to hear wage demands of the PT Freeport branch of FSP-KEP, instead firing six trade union leaders. In the negotiated end to the strike, Freeport-McMoRan agreed to reinstate the six trade union leaders with backpay for duration of the strike and to also pay the 10,000 strikers their wages over the eight days.The company also agreed to fully recognise the union at PT Freeport, and to commence negotiations toward a new collective agreement. More information here.
A branch of ICEM Indonesian affiliate FSP-KEP (SPSI), the Trade Union of Chemical, Energy, and Mine Workers, ended an eight-day strike on 13 July against US-based Freeport-McMoRan at the Grasberg copper and gold mine in eastern Papua province on New Guinea Island. Some 10,000 of the mine’s 18,000 workers downed tools on 4 July after management refused to hear wage demands of the PT Freeport branch of FSP-KEP, instead firing six trade union leaders. In the negotiated end to the strike, Freeport-McMoRan agreed to reinstate the six trade union leaders with backpay for duration of the strike and to also pay the 10,000 strikers their wages over the eight days.The company also agreed to fully recognise the union at PT Freeport, and to commence negotiations toward a new collective agreement. More information here.
