Ahmad Yunus, Bandung – May Day was also commemorated by workers in the West Java provincial of Bandung. Around 3,000 works spilled into the streets of Bandung organising a long-march and convoy.

Demonstrators began gathering at the Monument to the People’s Struggle on Jalan Dipati Ukur at around 8am where they gave speeches in which they called for workers welfare to be improved. They also rejected the use of contract labour. A number of banners and posters were brought to the action with messages such as “Reject Cheap Wages” and “Abolish Contract Labour Systems”.

The demonstrators then held a long-march and convoy from Jalan Dipati Ukur via Jalan H Juanda and Jalan Diponegoro. At 11.40 demonstrators were still at the Radio Republic Indonesia building on Jalan Diponegoro where they plan to broadcast their demands though the radio station.

The workers came from a number of organisations including the National Workers Union, the West Java National Trade Union Congress Alliance, the Greater Bandung Employees Brotherhood Forum and the Indonesian Association of Free Trade Unions.

The long-march and convoy resulted in traffic jams and a number of places such as Jalan Supratman were even closed off by police. (asy)

[Translated by James Balowski.]