The Garuda Indonesia Pilot Association (APG) and Garuda Labor Union (Sekarga) have confirmed they will work during the Idul Fitri holiday and delay plans for a strike. There had been fears that the planned action by the pilots would coincide with the Lebaran holiday in Indonesia, causing major disruption to millions of domestic and international travellers.
Ahmad Irfan Nasution, who is the head of Sekarga and representative of the labour union, has been quoted in kompas.com as saying that he would notify the public of any confirmed action at least seven days in advance of the strike. Eid al-Fitr 2018 in Indonesia will begin on the evening of Thursday, 14th June and ends in the evening on Saturday, 16th June.
The pilots association of Garuda Indonesia has been threatening to launch a strike if the government fails to meet its demands for managerial changes within the next month, in the wake of cost-cutting measures at Indonesia’s flag carrier. All association members, who represent approximately 90% of Garuda’s 1,500 pilots, would join the strike, in an attempt to have the board of directors reduced from a total of eight members to six.
At the close of the stock market on Thursday, the price of PT Garuda Indonesia (GIAA) stock was Rp 254 (1.8 US cents) per share, lower than the initial public offering, which was Rp 750.
“This is a loss for the company and the community, as the service to consumers is deteriorating,†said Ahmad. (roi)
