Wednesday, February 27, 2008

IFJ demands reinstatement of unfairly sacked journalist in Indonesia

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is outraged by the sacking and illegal treatment of an Indonesian journalist known for his campaigning for higher media standards.
According to IFJ affiliate, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Bambang Wisudo was fired by his employer, KOMPAS Daily, on December 8 after refusing to be reassigned to Ambon, Maluku Province.

AJI reports that KOMPAS tried to budge Wisudo in order to dilute his efforts as Secretary of the KOMPAS Trade Union (PKK), where he struggled to institute changes to management policies in an attempt to lift the quality of KOMPAS’ reportage.

"It is a sad day when a journalist who has given 15 years of loyal service to a newspaper can be dismissed, unlawfully treated, and despised for his efforts to improve important media standards," IFJ President Christopher Warren said.

According to AJI, KOMPAS security personnel forcibly removed Wisudo from the KOMPAS office and detained him in a holding cell for several hours until the delivery of a dismissal letter signed by the KOMPAS editor in chief, Suryopratomo.

AJI reports that the actions of KOMPAS Daily against Wisudo are prohibited by the Indonesian Constitution and Labour Law, exposing the company to possible criminal sanctions.
"The IFJ calls for KOMPAS to immediately reinstate Wisudo and to launch a review of its management, which has shown incredible disrespect towards its employees and acted illegally on several counts," the IFJ president said.

The IFJ supports AJI in their demands for KOMPAS Daily to do the following:
· Reinstate Wisudo to his former position at PT KOMPAS Media Nusantara.
· Recognise Wisudo's role as secretary of the PKK.
· Rescind the decision to send Wisudo to Ambon, Maluku Province and abandon its continued policy of union member relocation.
· Respect the right of employees to form and elect representatives to trade unions without intimidation.
· Conduct a thorough, transparent investigation of the events listed herein and take decisive corrective action against its internal security personnel.

"The time has come for media owners to acknowledge the full right of their employees to participate in trade unions, and to cease the relentless intimidation and efforts at silencing those most active among the unions," Warren said.


For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific +61 2 9333 0919
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 115 countries
posted by wahyu.dhyatmika 6:55 PM

“Kompas Daily” fires journalist-cum-union-leader for refusing reassignment; AJI calls it a move to undermine union.

The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) protests the dismissal of senior journalist Bambang Wisudo from “Kompas Daily” on 8 December 2006 and the intimidating manner in which it was done.

Bambang, who is also secretary of the Kompas Trade Union, has worked for the Jakarta-based newspaper for 15 years.

He was purportedly dismissed for refusing to be reassigned to Ambon, in the Maluku Province, 2,300km east of Jakarta.

However, AJI said that Wisudo’s reassignment was prompted by his efforts to improve the union’s reportage standards and address policies instituted by the newspaper’s management seen to be disruptive to workforce productivity and the readers.

AJI strongly condemns the atmosphere of intimidation created by the “Kompas Daily” management when the company’s security personnel forcefully removed Bambang from the office and detained him against his will for several hours in a holding cell.

Bambang was only released upon being delivered a dismissal letter signed by Editor-in-Chief Suryopra tom o.

AJI said Kompas Daily’s “intimidation, detention, and dismissal of (Bambang) are reprehensible, inhumane, and illegal.”

It continued, “The ‘Kompas Daily’ management’s efforts to restrict human rights and curtail collective efforts to improve communications are prohibited by the Constitution and labour law, and could result in criminal sanctions.”

AJI demands that “Kompas Daily” take the following actions:

- Reinstate Bambang to his former position at PT Kompas Media Nusantara.

- Recognise the workers’ right to elected representation and Bambang’s role as the union secretary.

- Rescind the decision to send Bambang to Ambon and abandon its policy of relocating union members.

- Respect the workers’ right to assemble and form trade unions without intimidation.

- Review the management’s culture of intimidation, starting with a thorough, transparent investigation of the events behind Bambang’s dismissal and a decisive, corrective action against the company’s security personnel.

Please send your support by sending your protest letters to PT KOMPAS Media Nusantara, addressed to:

Mr. Jacob Oetama, Mr. St Sularto and Mr. Suryopra tom o.

Facsimile: +62 21 548 6085, 548 3581

E-mail: kompas@kompas.com
posted by wahyu.dhyatmika 6:53 PM

Film perjuangan Bambang Wisudo melawan PHK semena-mena di harian Kompas, bisa dilihat di situs YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLETBFl5srI
posted by wahyu.dhyatmika 6:49 PM

Press Release
Peringatan Hari Buruh Internasional, 1 Mei 2007:
JURNALIS TOLAK AMPLOP, PERJUANGKAN UPAH LAYAK!

Jurnalis adalah buruh. Itulah kenyataannya. Sayang, hingga kini, nasib jurnalis masih belum secerah yang diharapkan. Upah jurnalis masih jauh dari kata layak. Jika dibandingkan dengan upah jurnalis Malaysia ataupun Thailand, gaji jurnalis Indonesia hanya seperempatnya. Menurut Dewan Pers, saat ini tersebar 829 media cetak, 2.000-an stasiun radio, dan 65 stasiun televisi. Namun, perusahaan media cetak yang berkualitas hanya 249 perusahaan atau 30%, sementara media elektronik yang layak bisnis cuma 10%.

Artinya, begitu mudah pemodal mendirikan perusahaan media, tapi tak memperhitungkan kelayakan kesejahteraan pekerjanya. Pengusaha media kerap berlindung di balik rendahnya tiras, iklan yang minim, dan lain-lain, untuk tidak menaikkan upah dan kesejahteraan pekerjanya. Celakanya pula, di Indonesia belum ada regulasi yang mengatur tentang kelayakan modal sebuah perusahaan media bisa berdiri, termasuk berapa besar perusahaan media minimal harus mengupah pekerjanya.

Menurut survei AJI Indonesia pada 2005, masih ada media yang menggaji jurnalisnya Rp 200 ribu sebulan. Sebuah angka yang masih sangat jauh dari upah minimum yang ditetapkan oleh pemerintah. Akibatnya, jelas. Mutu liputan jadi asal-asalan, dan banyak jurnalis yang terjebak di dalam pusaran amplop. Padahal amplop makin mengaburkan jurnalis dari independensi dan objektivitas. AJI memang sejak awal berdiri dengan tegas menolak amplop. Solusinya, apalagi jika bukan upah layak bagi jurnalis.

Menurut survei AJI Jakarta tahun 2006, upah layak minimum jurnalis Jakarta sebesar Rp 3,1 juta. Tentu jumlah tersebut perlu disesuaikan dengan kondisi inflasioner saat ini. Angka ini bukanlah angka yang muluk. Jurnalis bisa meraihnya dengan cara perjuangan bersama. Solidaritas, berorganisasi, berserikat adalah kuncinya.

Namun, perjuangan jurnalis melalui serikat pekerja, harus diakui, membutuhkan stamina yang panjang. Tak jarang terjadi manajemen menghalangi sikap kritis jurnalisnya. Tindakan anti-serikat masih kental terasa di beberapa media. Padahal hak berserikat dilindungi oleh Undang-Undang 21/2000 tentang Serikat Buruh/Pekerja.

Contoh telanjang yang bisa kita lihat adalah pemecatan jurnalis Kompas, Bambang Wisudo, Desember silam. Pendepakan Wisudo yang tak lain adalah sekretaris Perkumpulan Karyawan Kompas (PKK), sangat kental beraroma pemberangusan aktivitas serikat pekerja (union busting). Wisudo dimutasi ke Ambon—sementara Syahnan Rangkuti (ketua PKK) dimutasi ke Padang—setelah
beberapa waktu sebelumnya PKK berhasil mendesak manajemen Kompas untuk memberikan deviden saham karyawan sebesar 20%.

Itulah. Nasib jurnalis memang begitu ironis. Jurnalis galak dan garang mengritik pedas setiap kebijakan pemerintah dan penguasa, tapi tak punya posisi tawar di hadapan manajemennya sendiri. Ibarat kata, besar di luar namun kecil di dalam perusahaannya sendiri. Kondisi seperti ini tak bisa dibiarkan begitu saja. Jurnalis harus bersatu, berbareng bergerak
memperjuangkan hak-haknya.

Oleh karenanya dalam peringatan Hari Buruh Internasional, 1 Mei 2007 ini, AJI Jakarta menyerukan kepada seluruh pekerja media (jurnalis, bagian iklan, percetakan, sirkulasi, keuangan, dan lain-lain) untuk bersatu mengorganisasikan diri dalam serikat pekerja. Selain itu, dalam hari kemenangan kaum buruh sedunia ini, AJI Jakarta juga menuntut:

1. Perusahaan media untuk memberikan upah layak bagi jurnalis atau seluruh pekerjanya.
2. Perusahaan media untuk memberikan hak berserikat kepada pekerjanya.
3. Hentikan pemberangusan serikat pekerja di perusahaan media.

Dengan upah yang layak, integritas jurnalis makin terbangun. Mutu media pun makin terasah.

Jurnalis Juga Buruh!
Persatuan bagi Pekerja Media!

Jakarta, 30 Mei 2007

Winuranto Adhi Jajang Jamaludin
Koordinator Divisi Serikat Pekerja Ketua AJI Jakarta
posted by wahyu.dhyatmika 6:44 PM

AJI Terbitkan Panduan Hukum untuk Jurnalis
Rabu, 28 Desember 2005 | 11:05 WIB

TEMPO Interaktif, Jakarta: Aliansi Jurnalis Independent Jakarta, Rabu (28/12) pagi, meluncurkan buku "Panduan Hukum untuk Jurnalis". Buku ini diharapkan bisa memberi panduan bagi wartawan dalam menjalankan tugas jurnalistiknya sehari-hari.

Buku ini disusun, kata ketua AJI Jakarta Ulin Niam Yusron, dari keprihatinan kami atas banyaknya gugatan hukum terhadap pers. "Semoga setelah membaca buku ini, wartawan tidak mudah disomasi," katanya.

Buku ini disusun sejak 6 bulan lalu dan disarikan dari sejumlah diskusi intensif yang melibatkan Dewan Pers, wartawan, dan pengacara. Polisi, jaksa, dan hakim juga ikut memberi masukan," kata Ulin

Peluncuran buku hari ini ditandai dengan diskusi tentang kriminalitas dan kekerasan pada jurnalis berbicara dalam diskusi ini, ketua Dewan Pers Ichlasul Amal, Advokat Luhut Pangaribuan, dan penulis buku ini, Margiono dari AJI Jakarta. | wahyu dhyatmika
posted by wahyu.dhyatmika 6:43 PM