Thousands of labors incorporated in Indonesian Transportation Workers’ Struggle (SBTPI) blocked the entrance of Tanjung Priok Port Post 9 container terminal, North Jakarta, Thursday (5/1). As a result, port activities from and to Post 9 as well as the traffic on Jalan Yos Sudarso towards Cilincing had to be diverted.

Today, we’ll declare that political unions do not trust political elites joined in the election

Based on beritajakarta.com observations, the labors have gathered at Tanjung Priok Port Post 9 since 9 AM before finally convoying to HI Roundabout, Central Jakarta.

“Today, we’ll declare that political unions do not trust political elites joined in the election,” stated SBTPI Chairman, Ilhamsyah.

According to him, SBTPI involves about 1,000 workers in this International Labor Day or May Day commemoration. They will join with other 20,000 workers joined in the Jabodetabek Joint Labors at HI Roundabout.

SBTPI demands the government to nationalize vital assets to finance domestic development, build national industries to meet domestic needs, create employment opportunities, provide free social security insurances (education, health, housing) for the people, refuse low wage politics and national adequate wage, and abolish contract working system.

In their action, the labors had thrown plastic drinking bottles to passing container trucks. They also scolded the truck drivers who are still working and not joining the demonstration. Luckily, the situation can be calmed by police officers who are on guard.

Tanjung Priok Port Resort Police Chief AKBP Asep Adi Saputra said that to secure the action, as many as 600 policemen are deployed. In general, he assessed that the action is still running conducive.

“The friends here (labors) are not long, one hour top they will join (with other labors) in HI (Roundabout). We apply diversion to prevent the traffic from getting disturbed,” he uttered.