Budi Sugiharto/BI & GB, Jakarta – Following yesterday's demonstration by taxi drivers from Surabaya Taxi, around 200 Srikandi taxi drivers went on strike and demonstrated at the Surabaya Provincial Legislative Council Thursday over a new fee system set to be introduced today. Fees have been increased from Rp 77,000 (US$7.50) per day to Rp 111,000 (US$13) per day.
The protestors arrived simultaneously at the Council building at about 9am local time. The Council's parking lot resembled a taxi terminal as it was jammed with green coloured taxis spilling out onto the main road causing a traffic jam in the already congested city. While the majority were shouting and yelling out their demands, other taxi drivers were also seen persuading taxi drivers from other companies to take part in the protest.
Besides rejecting the fee hike, the demonstrators also demanded that Srikandi Taxi Director, Budi Cahyadi, step aside. The drivers said that they would continued their protest if the company failed to accept their demands.
The drivers urged Cahyadi to resign after his failure to deal with drivers' complaints, particularly regarding the availability of spare parts. The group also criticised the harsh working policies employed by this taxi company.
"The company fires drivers at their leisure," said a driver who participated in this demonstration adding that "one of his friends" was dismissed unfairly.
Around 300 drivers from Surabaya Taxi, owned by the Blue Bird taxi company, spent last night at the Council building and refused to pick up passengers. These drivers also rejected the increase in the fee's and demanded a review on division of commissions. The drivers said that they would continue their strike action if the company management failed to review the new commission system.
Previously the company would give 30% commission to the drivers if they submit Rp 160,000 (US$17) to the company, 40% for Rp 208,000 (US$23) and 50% if they submit above Rp 208,000. Under the new system, if a driver submits Rp 235,000 they receive 30% commission, 40% commission on up to Rp 305,000 and 50% commission on Rp 305,000 and above.
The striking drivers believed that the new system is unfair as there are less and less passengers. They urged the company to go back to the old system or at least work out a compromise beneficial to both parties.
The drivers also demanded the Drivers Association (a union group established by the Blue Bird Group) be abolished. They said the association had done nothing in the fight for their rights. "The Association's administrator is closer to the Group's management rather than its member's aspirations," a driver said disappointedly to Detik.