kingwilly
03-04-11, 08:31
The British International School in Jakarta is warning of the possibility of strike action by some of its Indonesian staff as final examinations near for a number of the school’s students but is down-playing the possibility of any major disruptions.
In a letter forwarded to the parents of pupils at the exclusive school on Friday, principal Christian Barkei says BIS’s School Workers Union had sent a letter to a small number of parents about a proposed three-day strike next week.
Barkei says the education of 1,300 students from 46 countries is the school’s first priority and that “any action that upsets our children must be avoided if possible.”
“A strike action is of course the right of employees in a democracy but this right should only be exercised as an extreme final measure,” he says in the letter obtained by the Jakarta Globe. “Especially where the reputation of the school and Indonesia is concerned and the impact on children can be damaging, I feel that strike action in a school such as BIS is simply the wrong course of action.”
Barkei rejects claims by Sari Putri and Asih on behalf of the union that the school has not been willing to discuss the source of conflict, stating that the school has always agreed to meet the representatives from the unions” but the “Union representatives always cancelled or rejected the meetings.”
“I am disappointed that the SP-BIS union has made these strike threats, based on incomplete and inaccurate statements and I am most saddened that the representatives of the SP-BIS union think it is correct to recommend actions that can seriously affect our students, their parents and the school’s reputation. I would add that over 160 of our Year 11 and year 13 students will be commencing their important examinations this month.”
Sari Putri, contacted by the Globe, would not comment on the possibility of strike action but did say a news conference would be held on Sunday morning.
Sari, a former employee at the school who claims she was unfairly dismissed, has previously outlined a number of grievances against the institution, including an alleged failure by the school to make a number of administrative and school management support staff as well as chaperones and class assistants permanent staff.
She has also accused the school of failing to provide monthly payslips to its employees, meaning they were unsure if their income tax had been paid.
Sari also accused the school of discrimination, saying foreign staff received a number of additional benefits above those of their Indonesian counterparts, including housing and transportation allowances.
Barkei, speaking to the Globe, said he was “very upset and very disappointed” that the threat of strike action had been made, particularly given the school’s willingness to mediate with the union — one of two at the school — and the union’s reluctance to do so.
In the letter, Barkei said BIS had always been a good employer, “offering above market remuneration, medical benefits, interest free loans for educational and emergency purposes and other benefits in line with the law and best practice in Indonesia.”
He told the Globe that he was confident the school had “followed Indonesian labor laws to the letter of the law” and that he was confident the measures the school had put in place would mean the proposed strike — scheduled to begin Wednesday — would have little if any impact on students.
“We do not anticipate that there will be any disruption to teaching and learning and School will remain open as usual all of next week with all events and activities taking place as normal,” he wrote in the letter to parents.
Reiterating to the Globe, Barkei said he would be very pleased however if the strike did not go ahead and the school had proposed yet another meeting with the union on Monday to avoid the possibility.
British International School Braces for Strikes as Exams Loom
Jakarta Globe www.thejakartaglobe.com
Anyone know anything more about this ?
In a letter forwarded to the parents of pupils at the exclusive school on Friday, principal Christian Barkei says BIS’s School Workers Union had sent a letter to a small number of parents about a proposed three-day strike next week.
Barkei says the education of 1,300 students from 46 countries is the school’s first priority and that “any action that upsets our children must be avoided if possible.”
“A strike action is of course the right of employees in a democracy but this right should only be exercised as an extreme final measure,” he says in the letter obtained by the Jakarta Globe. “Especially where the reputation of the school and Indonesia is concerned and the impact on children can be damaging, I feel that strike action in a school such as BIS is simply the wrong course of action.”
Barkei rejects claims by Sari Putri and Asih on behalf of the union that the school has not been willing to discuss the source of conflict, stating that the school has always agreed to meet the representatives from the unions” but the “Union representatives always cancelled or rejected the meetings.”
“I am disappointed that the SP-BIS union has made these strike threats, based on incomplete and inaccurate statements and I am most saddened that the representatives of the SP-BIS union think it is correct to recommend actions that can seriously affect our students, their parents and the school’s reputation. I would add that over 160 of our Year 11 and year 13 students will be commencing their important examinations this month.”
Sari Putri, contacted by the Globe, would not comment on the possibility of strike action but did say a news conference would be held on Sunday morning.
Sari, a former employee at the school who claims she was unfairly dismissed, has previously outlined a number of grievances against the institution, including an alleged failure by the school to make a number of administrative and school management support staff as well as chaperones and class assistants permanent staff.
She has also accused the school of failing to provide monthly payslips to its employees, meaning they were unsure if their income tax had been paid.
Sari also accused the school of discrimination, saying foreign staff received a number of additional benefits above those of their Indonesian counterparts, including housing and transportation allowances.
Barkei, speaking to the Globe, said he was “very upset and very disappointed” that the threat of strike action had been made, particularly given the school’s willingness to mediate with the union — one of two at the school — and the union’s reluctance to do so.
In the letter, Barkei said BIS had always been a good employer, “offering above market remuneration, medical benefits, interest free loans for educational and emergency purposes and other benefits in line with the law and best practice in Indonesia.”
He told the Globe that he was confident the school had “followed Indonesian labor laws to the letter of the law” and that he was confident the measures the school had put in place would mean the proposed strike — scheduled to begin Wednesday — would have little if any impact on students.
“We do not anticipate that there will be any disruption to teaching and learning and School will remain open as usual all of next week with all events and activities taking place as normal,” he wrote in the letter to parents.
Reiterating to the Globe, Barkei said he would be very pleased however if the strike did not go ahead and the school had proposed yet another meeting with the union on Monday to avoid the possibility.
British International School Braces for Strikes as Exams Loom
Jakarta Globe www.thejakartaglobe.com
Anyone know anything more about this ?