JAKARTA: The strike of Garuda Pilots Association ended earlier than the original plan after the airline's management offered a chance for negotiation.Yesterday, Garuda Pilots Association (APG) agreed to settle the strike that only lasted for 13 hours from the original plan of 24 hours non-stop.SOE Minister Mustafa Abubakar said he would like to be a mediator in the negotiation between APG and management in order to complete a number of issues before Id al-Fitr holiday."In earlier discussion [yesterday, there is a deal that the management of Garuda and APG will have another negotiation at the beginning of Ramadhan [fasting month] and it is expected to be completed before Id al-Fitr," he said after the discussion with APG and Garuda's management yesterday.He stated a number of APGs proposals will be discussed soon in the internal negotiation, and then the result will be coordinated with Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration.Mustafa asked the airline's management to establish more frequent interaction and communication with a number of pilots.Initially, SOE Minister came to Garuda office and President Director of Garuda and Emirsyah Satar reviewed the situation of scheduled flights at Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport.Mustafa was glad that the flight from Jakarta is normal as usual."However, Garuda has to concentrate on the level of flight delay. Earlier [yesterday] the flight from Jakarta to Batam was also delayed. This should be rectified," he said.Management of Garuda did not expect that the pilot strike will be great and spread to other cities such as Batam and Makassar.In fact, the airline has set up 130 pilots who are now responsible as senior structural officers and instructors in Jakarta.Garuda also obtained an assistance of four pilots from the Directorate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operation (DKPPU) at Ministry of Transportation.DelayIn Makassar, Garuda flights to Jakarta and Balikpapan were delayed.Besides, flight schedules in Medan, Denpasar, and Palembang were also facing a delay.APG President Stephanus Gerardus Rahadi is expecting the management to restructure the recruitment policy of foreign pilots.Meanwhile, Satar said it promised to find solutions regarding the use of foreign pilots and business expansion of Garuda."We will find solution together and it is expected to be completed before Id al-Fitr," he said.Emirsyah said a number of complaints from APG will be completed under the coordination of Ministry of SOEs.Vice President Corporate Communication Garuda Pujobroto explained the delay can be solved by replacing the pilots. (25/Berliana Elisabeth S./Hendra Wibawa/Roni Yunianto/Noor M. Korompot)

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