MPSI and ITF Celebrate May Day 2024 with Cultural Activities and Public Transport Campaign


Jakarta – A number of transportation workers' unions who are members of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) urban transportation workers together with the Indonesian Art Workers Society (MPSI) commemorate May Day 2024.

There are two places that are used as places to commemorate Labor Day which will be held on Wednesday (1/5/2024). First at Gambir Station Field and second at Taman Ismail Marzuki Jakarta.

Interestingly, the commemoration held by the ITF and MPSI is very different from the workers who make speeches with various requests. Instead, ITF and MPSI celebrated Labour Day by holding 'The Future is Publict Transport' campaign and art and culture performances

MPSI Chairman Mujib Hermani said that the commemoration of Labor Day should not celebrate by protesting and giving speeches. But it is also done subtly by displaying a variety of cultures and arts.

According to him, with any art and culture, people's complaints against society can be summarized all. So it is hoped that satire through culture and art can open the eyes of policy makers, namely the government.

"This year's May Day commemoration MPSI collaborates with ITF, by voicing aspirations through art and culture performances," Mujib said in his statement on Thursday (2/5/2024).

The man born in Sumbawa also detailed that the activities held consisted of carnivals, cultural stages, street fashion and dances. As well as musical performances, poetry readings and murals.

Even Mujib also said, his party will also collaborate again with ITF to hold a multimedia art performance event. With the header "Working Women's Monument: A Testimony" played by women public transport workers.

In addition to cultural and artistic activities, a campaign was also carried out 'The Future is Publict Transport' about Climate change for urban transport workers. There are 10.points contained in the campaign known as Just Transition (JT).

The 10 points are, first, the path to formalization, the second additional wages in the event of extreme weather, the third job security for urban transport workers, the fourth support for retirees and workers approaching retirement, and the fifth the right to health and safety.

Then at the sixth point of democratic City transportation, the seventh is public sector involvement, the eighth is technological sovereignty, the ninth is mode change, and finally gender equality.

ITF Field Coordinator Enung Yani said that this JT must be inclusive and democratic. So it is hoped that transportation system policy makers can involve stakeholders to sit together to think about the best solution.

"Just this transition for urban transport workers is a social, economic and environmental solution in the present, tomorrow and forever," he said.

Here are the unions present Railway Workers Union (SPKA), Aerospace, Digital and Transportation Workers Union (SPDT-FAPMI), Jakarta Transportation Workers Union (SPTJ) and Mass Rapid Transit Workers Union (SPMRT) and Indonesian Art Workers Society (MPSI). (sir)