Timika, Papua – As many as 700 workers from PT Trakindo Utama went on strike in Timika on Friday to demand higher salaries.

The workers, grouped in the Confederation of All-Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI), marched from their factory to the Mimika legislative council calling for their monthly salaries to be raised by 97 percent.

The strikers claimed Trakindo promised them raises by the end of 2007. Trakindo is a partner company of PT Freeport Indonesia, which gave its workers raises in January.

"We demand the management raise our monthly salaries as high as other partner companies, or we will continue to stay out of the workplace," said the rally coordinator.

Councilors Maimun Madia and Marianus Maknaipeko, who received the demonstrators at the council building, tried but failed to facilitate a meeting between the workers and Trakindo management.