Ita Lismawati F. Malau, Tudji Martudji – Labour groups from various parts of East Java descended on the provincial capital of Surabaya on Thursday May 1 and gathered at the Grahadi State Building (the governor’s office) to commemorate International Labour Day or May Day.

Several labour groups could be seen filling the Waru traffic circle entry-point on the boundary between Sidoarjo regency and Surabaya city. The workers will then move off to the Grahadi State Building on Jl. Gubernur Suryo.

The labour organisations that joined the commemorations included, among others, the Indonesian Metal Trade Workers Federation (FSPMI), the National Trade Union (SPN) as well as other East Java trade unions, including the ‘People’s United Movement’.

East Java Labour Volunteers coordinator Jamaluddin said that the workers had several demands. “Decent wages, the abolition of contract labour and outsourcing systems and social security”, said Jamaluddin when speaking with VIVA News on Thursday May 1.

The workers arrived in buses, trucks and motorcycles. As workers began to pack stretches of road in Surabaya, traffic jams built up at the Waru traffic circle where workers were arriving from Sidoarjo, Pasuruan, Mojokerto and surrounding areas. The other transit point being used by workers was in front of the Surabaya Zoo.

At the Negara Grahadi Building, police personnel were on alert safeguarding the roads used by workers commemorating this May Day 2014.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://nasional.news.viva.co.id/news/read/501100-massa-buruh-padati-surabaya