The head of Freeport Indonesia's workers' union has said there will be no further strikes despite growing concern over the issue in Timika, Papua.
A three-month strike at the Freeport-McMoRan-operated Grasberg mine, the world's largest gold and copper mine, crippled production at the site last year, and only ended in December. Some sticking points remain, however, fueling speculation of future industrial action.
Derek Motte, a spokesman for the Freeport chapter of the All-Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI), said the head of the Mimika district chapter of the union had no plan to organize further labor action. He dismissed speculation of an impending strike as just an "issue."
He said the SPSI's Freeport chapter considered all the workers' grievances with Freeport to have been resolved.
Large numbers of Freeport workers and contractors are expected to return to Tembagapura, the town that houses the company's workers, in the next two days following the resolution of issues with Kuala Pelabuhan Indonesia, a contracting firm, on Friday.
KPI, which operates the Freeport port, roads and transportation facilities, as well as mobile equipment, had refused to rehire 18 workers who were striking union members.
"What's important is that the grievances of KPI and Freeport workers have been cleared up," Derek said. "These two companies have shown us the way. Now it is time for other contracting firms to follow suit and not take unilateral action against workers who joined the strike."
The SPSI and the CEO of Freeport Indonesia, Armando Mahler, sent a letter to the contractors instructing them not to take disciplinary action against workers who took part in the strike, such as terminating their employment or sanctions. The letter was signed by Mahler and referred to points of an agreement struck between Freeport and the union in Jakarta on Dec. 12.
Derek said that since Dec. 26, between 400 and 500 workers had returned to Tembagapura. The returning workers are required to take part in training sessions in order to reactivate their employee records, which have been blocked since they walked off the job.
Workers who have returned will also undergo hazard identification and risk assessment training at the Kuala Kencana community hall.