Astra Group raises concerns

INDONESIA: The International Metalworkers' Federation is receiving reports that the Indonesian Astra Group management is involved in an attempt to create a single company-based union for the entire group of companies. This raises extremely serious concerns, the IMF-Toyota World Council says in a resolution. One of the trade union movement's most strongly held principles is that trade unions must be free of employer and government influence. The trade union at Toyota Astra, which is a part of the Indonesian Astra Group, had long been an IMF affiliate. After the fall of the Suharto regime, the union was caught up in the struggle to democratise the Indonesian union movement. According to the resolution, any attempt to form a management-influenced union from the Astra Group, including in the Toyota Astra operation, would have negative implications for workers, as well as for Toyota and its products. Therefore, the IMF-Toyota World Council pledges to closely monitor developments at Toyota Astra, and to provide solidarity and assistance to workers struggling for representation that is free of government and employer influence.