TKBM Workers Work Demo At KSOP Tarakan, Disappointed About TUKS

TARAKAN - Workers from the Federation of Indonesian Transport Workers Unions (F-SPTI) for Unloading Charges (TKBM) by Tarakan Port, North Kalimantan (Kaltara).

The masses rallied in front of the Tarakan City Class II Harbormaster and Port Authority (KSOP) office, Wednesday, May 22.

The action of the loading and unloading workers is a form of disappointment asking for a loading and unloading activity policy carried out at the Terminal for Own Interest (TUKS) owned by PT Phoenix Resource Internasional (PRI).

In their action, the demonstrators submitted 3 demands to KSOP as the owner of the authority and the giver of the loading and unloading permit.

"First, regarding the uncertainty of the involvement of members of the Tarakan Port TKBM Cooperative on loading and unloading activities of the PT PRI cargo ship," said Chairman of the Indonesian Transport Workers Union Federation (F-SPTI) TKBM, Davitson, Wednesday, May 22.

The second point is related to the clarity of granting movement permits to ships carrying PT PRI goods under the authority of KSOP.

"The authority of the Head of KSOP or Kasi Lala in which there is a throwing of responsibility in granting her permission," said Davitson.

The third point is related to the granting of a loading and unloading permit granted by the KSOP where PRI is known to have dismantled its own goods from the ship using labor outside the TKBM cooperative.

"TKBM should be involved, TUKS at PT PRI should operate after PRI produces. Meanwhile, until now PRI is still in the development process," he said.

After waiting for about 2 hours, finally the Class II A KSOP Tarakan granted all the demands made by the workers.

Head of Class II KSOP Tarakan Mukhlis Tohepaley who met the workers made the decision to grant the three points demanded by the workers.

Mukhlis also acknowledged the demands of the workers who confirmed that PT PRI has a Terminal for Personal Interest (TUKS) with permission as a paper factory.

In fact, for about a year, loading and unloading activities at TUKS PT PRI have been ongoing.

"It's been a long time. There are some that have been dismantled at PT PRI and partly in Malundung," he said.

This has caused disappointment to TKBM workers. Because, if loading and unloading is carried out at PRI, workers cannot work there.

"There is an activity at PT PRI which has a TUKS with a main paper factory permit. From this TKMB, so far we have communicated to get a job at PT PRI," he said.

"However, I emphasize, as the Head of the Class II Tarakan KSOP, that all activities must comply with the decision of the Minister of Transportation number 52 of 2021 regarding activities at TUKS," he said.

According to him, loading and unloading will be carried out again in a sub-district in Malundung while in the construction of PT PRI.

"Later, after operating as a paper porridge factory, you can return there (PT PRI)," he said.

It is known that currently PT PRI is still in the development stage of construction and there is no production of paper porridge.

"Actually, it is not allowed, but there are several conditions that need to be considered in Malundung. Such as the tidal conditions, the bridge is no longer adequate and if there are ships entering, other ships cannot stop. That is what we need to consider, but friends from TKBM have other understandings, okay, we respect that. But we need to find a good solution. Tomorrow we can enter the Port of Malundung again," he said.

Meanwhile, PT PRI representative Angga Leman who was present at the location admitted that PT PRI already had a TUKS operational permit.

"KSOP also doesn't want to press everything must be in Malundung because we already have a permit. But if there is a decision, we will respect the decision," he concluded.