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{{Short description|Trade union in Indonesia (1947–1965)}}
'''''Sarbupri''''', short for '''''Sarekat Buruh Perkebunan Republik Indonesia''''' ('Estate Workers Union of the Rebublic of Indonesia'), was a [[trade union]] of plantation estate workers in [[Indonesia]]. As of the late 1950s, it was the largest trade union in the country.<ref>Galenson, Walter. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=t3I1WeQpNdsC&pg=PA105 Labor in Developing Economies]''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1962. p. 105</ref> Sarbupri was affiliated to the trade union centre [[SOBSI]], which was linked to the [[Communist Party of Indonesia]].<ref name="px"/>
The '''Estate Workers Union of the Republic of Indonesia''' ({{lang-id|Sarekat Buruh Perkebunan Republik Indonesia}}, '''Sarbupri''') was a [[trade union]] of plantation estate workers in [[Indonesia]]. As of the late 1950s, it was the largest trade union in the country.<ref>Galenson, Walter. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=t3I1WeQpNdsC&pg=PA105 Labor in Developing Economies]''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1962. p. 105</ref> Sarbupri was affiliated to the trade union centre [[Central All-Indonesian Workers Organization|SOBSI]], which was linked to the [[Communist Party of Indonesia]].<ref name="px"/>


==Indonesian National Revolution==
== Indonesian National Revolution ==
Sarbupri was founded in February 1947.<ref name="px">Hindley, Donald. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=ivY5wrVDluUC The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963]''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. xvi</ref> Sarbupri initially worked only in the Republican-held areas.<ref>Stoler, Ann Laura. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=vLUDdnas8xoC&pg=PA220 Capitalism and Confrontation in Sumatra's Plantation Belt, 1870-1979]''. Ann Arbor, Mich: The University of Michigan Press, 1995. p. 220</ref> Its activities at this point were not so much union organizing at estates, as the organization was more involved in building workers' militias to fight the Dutch forces. Most of organizing of workers at the estates was likely limited to preparing the labourers for [[scorched earth]] tactics in case of a Dutch advance. Local [[Pesindo]] leaders often doubled as estate representatives of Sarbupri.<ref>Stoler, Ann Laura. ''[http://www.jstor.org/stable/2056166 Working the Revolution: Plantation Laborers and the People's Militia in North Sumatra]'', in ''The Journal of Asian Studies'', Vol. 47, No. 2 (May, 1988), pp. 227-247</ref>
Sarbupri was founded in February 1947.<ref name="px">Hindley, Donald. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=ivY5wrVDluUC The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963]''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. xvi</ref> Sarbupri initially worked only in the Republican-held areas.<ref>Stoler, Ann Laura. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=vLUDdnas8xoC&pg=PA220 Capitalism and Confrontation in Sumatra's Plantation Belt, 1870-1979]''. Ann Arbor, Mich: The University of Michigan Press, 1995. p. 220</ref> Its activities at this point were not so much union organizing at estates, as the organization was more involved in building workers' militias to fight the Dutch forces. Most of organizing of workers at the estates was likely limited to preparing the labourers for [[scorched earth]] tactics in case of a Dutch advance.


The Sarbupri chairman [[Maruto Darusman]] was killed in the midst of the 1948 [[Madiun Affair|Madiun revolt]].<ref>Hindley, Donald. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=ivY5wrVDluUC&pg=PA133 The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963]''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. 133</ref>
The Sarbupri chairman Maruto Darusman was killed in the midst of the 1948 [[Madiun Affair]].<ref>Hindley, Donald. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=ivY5wrVDluUC&pg=PA133 The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963]''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. 133</ref>


==Strikes of 1950 & 1953==
== Strikes of 1950 & 1953 ==
In the early 1950s Sarbupri was the sole estate workers trade union of national importance in the country.<ref name="hi"/> A massive strike was organized by Sarbupri August-September 1950, bringing the vast majority of private estates to a halt. As a result of the strike, the government intervened and instituted a mininum wage for estate labour (significantly higher than previous average wages). The strike constituted the first major victory of SOBSI. A second major strike was organized in September 1953, forcing the government to implement a 30% wage increase for estate workers.<ref name="p148">Hindley, Donald. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=ivY5wrVDluUC&pg=PA148 The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963]''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. 148</ref>
In the early 1950s Sarbupri was the sole estate workers trade union of national importance in the country.<ref name="hi"/> A massive strike was organized by Sarbupri August–September 1950, bringing the vast majority of private estates to a halt. As a result of the strike, the government intervened and instituted a minimum wage for estate labour (significantly higher than previous average wages). The strike constituted the first major victory of SOBSI. A second major strike was organized in September 1953, forcing the government to implement a 30% wage increase for estate workers.<ref name="p148">Hindley, Donald. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=ivY5wrVDluUC&pg=PA148 The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963]''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. 148</ref>


Sarbupri campaigned actively against the use of temporary labour at estates. At times the union called for increased government control to prevent the use of temporary labour, at times Sarbupri called for total abolition of the temporary labour system.<ref name="p168">Stoler, Ann Laura. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=vLUDdnas8xoC&pg=PA163 Capitalism and Confrontation in Sumatra's Plantation Belt, 1870-1979]''. Ann Arbor, Mich: The University of Michigan Press, 1995. p. 168</ref>
Sarbupri campaigned actively against the use of temporary labour at estates. At times the union called for increased government control to prevent the use of temporary labour, at times Sarbupri called for total abolition of the temporary labour system.<ref name="p168">Stoler, Ann Laura. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=vLUDdnas8xoC&pg=PA163 Capitalism and Confrontation in Sumatra's Plantation Belt, 1870-1979]''. Ann Arbor, Mich: The University of Michigan Press, 1995. p. 168</ref>


==Organization==
== Organization ==
In 1952 Sarbupri claimed a membership of around 700,000, although that figure was likely inflated. Around 1956 the membership was estimated at around 370-390,000.<ref name="hi">Hindley, Donald. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=ivY5wrVDluUC&pg=PA141 The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963]''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. 141</ref> Sarbupri published the journal ''Warta Sarbupri''.<ref>Lev, Daniel S., and Ruth McVey. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=lSU3mFK1gMUC&pg=PA102 Making Indonesia: [Essays on Modern Indonesia in Honor of George McT. Kahin]]''. Studies on Southeast Asia, no. 20. Ithaca, N.Y.: Southeast Asia Program, Cornell University, 1996. p. 102</ref>
In 1952 Sarbupri claimed a membership of around 700,000, although that figure was likely inflated. Around 1956 the membership was estimated at around 370-390,000.<ref name="hi">Hindley, Donald. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=ivY5wrVDluUC&pg=PA141 The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963]''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. 141</ref> Sarbupri published the journal ''Warta Sarbupri''.<ref>Lev, Daniel S., and Ruth McVey. [https://books.google.com/books?id=lSU3mFK1gMUC&pg=PA102 ''Making Indonesia: &#91;Essays on Modern Indonesia in Honor of George McT. Kahin&#93;'']. Studies on Southeast Asia, no. 20. Ithaca, N.Y.: Southeast Asia Program, Cornell University, 1996. p. 102</ref>


Suparna Sastradiredja was the general secretary throughout the history of the union.<ref name="iisg">[[International Institute of Social History]]. ''[http://www.iisg.nl/asia/indonesia.php Indonesia]''</ref>
Suparna Sastradiredja was the general secretary throughout the history of the union.<ref name="iisg">[[International Institute of Social History]]. ''[http://www.iisg.nl/asia/indonesia.php Indonesia]''</ref>


In 1957, Sarbupri formed a joint coordination body together with seven other estate workers unions.<ref>Hindley, Donald. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=ivY5wrVDluUC&pg=PA150 The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963]''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. 150</ref>
In 1957, Sarbupri formed a joint coordination body together with seven other estate workers unions.<ref>Hindley, Donald. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=ivY5wrVDluUC&pg=PA150 The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963]''. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. 150</ref>


==Repression and aftermath==
== Repression and aftermath ==
The exact number of Sarbupri members who fell victims of the persecutions following the [[Indonesian killings of 1965–1966|1965 coup d'etat]] is not known. However, notably, very few former Sarbupri local branch leaders or estate representatives were alive as of the early 1980s.<ref name="rep"/> Suparna Sastradiredja survived by being in [[China]] at the time of the coup.<ref name="iisg"/>
The exact number of Sarbupri members who fell victims of the persecutions following the [[Indonesian killings of 1965–1966|1965 coup d'état]] is not known. However, notably, very few former Sarbupri local branch leaders or estate representatives were alive as of the early 1980s.<ref name="rep"/> Suparna Sastradiredja survived by being in [[China]] at the time of the coup.<ref name="iisg"/>


In several cases, children of Sarbupri leaders were forced to observe the executions of their fathers. For survivors of the repression, their membership in Sarbupri continued to constitute a social stigma for many years to come. In the New Order, former Sarbupri members were often blacklisted and fired from employment at plantation estates (although such moves were difficult to implement at estates where around 90% of the staff had once belonged to Sarbupri). As late as 1976, mass lay-offs of former Sarbupri members took place in [[Sumatra]], actions motivated by the communist past of these individuals.<ref name="rep">Stoler, Ann Laura. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=vLUDdnas8xoC&pg=PA163 Capitalism and Confrontation in Sumatra's Plantation Belt, 1870-1979]''. Ann Arbor, Mich: The University of Michigan Press, 1995. pp. 163-164</ref> In the wake of the crushing of Sarbupri, use of temporary labour increased markedly.<ref name="p168"/>
In several cases, children of Sarbupri leaders were forced to observe the executions of their fathers. For survivors of the repression, their membership in Sarbupri continued to constitute a social stigma for many years to come. In the New Order, former Sarbupri members were often blacklisted and fired from employment at plantation estates (although such moves were difficult to implement at estates where around 90% of the staff had once belonged to Sarbupri). As late as 1976, mass lay-offs of former Sarbupri members took place in [[Sumatra]], actions motivated by the communist past of these individuals.<ref name="rep">Stoler, Ann Laura. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=vLUDdnas8xoC&pg=PA163 Capitalism and Confrontation in Sumatra's Plantation Belt, 1870-1979]''. Ann Arbor, Mich: The University of Michigan Press, 1995. pp. 163-164</ref> In the wake of the crushing of Sarbupri, use of temporary labour increased markedly.<ref name="p168"/>


==References==
== References ==
{{Portal|Organized labour}}
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|30em}}
⚫
[[Category:1947 establishments]]

⚫
[[Category:Trade unions in Indonesia]]
{{Communism in Indonesia}}
{{Authority control}}
⚫
[[Category:Trade unions established in 1947]]
[[Category:Central All-Indonesian Workers Organization]]
[[Category:Agriculture and forestry trade unions]]
[[Category:Agriculture and forestry trade unions]]
⚫
[[Category:1947 establishments in Indonesia]]
[[Category:1966 disestablishments in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Agricultural organizations based in Indonesia]]

Latest revision as of 03:40, 26 July 2024

The Estate Workers Union of the Republic of Indonesia (Indonesian: Sarekat Buruh Perkebunan Republik Indonesia, Sarbupri) was a trade union of plantation estate workers in Indonesia. As of the late 1950s, it was the largest trade union in the country.[1] Sarbupri was affiliated to the trade union centre SOBSI, which was linked to the Communist Party of Indonesia.[2]

Indonesian National Revolution

[edit]

Sarbupri was founded in February 1947.[2] Sarbupri initially worked only in the Republican-held areas.[3] Its activities at this point were not so much union organizing at estates, as the organization was more involved in building workers' militias to fight the Dutch forces. Most of organizing of workers at the estates was likely limited to preparing the labourers for scorched earth tactics in case of a Dutch advance.

The Sarbupri chairman Maruto Darusman was killed in the midst of the 1948 Madiun Affair.[4]

Strikes of 1950 & 1953

[edit]

In the early 1950s Sarbupri was the sole estate workers trade union of national importance in the country.[5] A massive strike was organized by Sarbupri August–September 1950, bringing the vast majority of private estates to a halt. As a result of the strike, the government intervened and instituted a minimum wage for estate labour (significantly higher than previous average wages). The strike constituted the first major victory of SOBSI. A second major strike was organized in September 1953, forcing the government to implement a 30% wage increase for estate workers.[6]

Sarbupri campaigned actively against the use of temporary labour at estates. At times the union called for increased government control to prevent the use of temporary labour, at times Sarbupri called for total abolition of the temporary labour system.[7]

Organization

[edit]

In 1952 Sarbupri claimed a membership of around 700,000, although that figure was likely inflated. Around 1956 the membership was estimated at around 370-390,000.[5] Sarbupri published the journal Warta Sarbupri.[8]

Suparna Sastradiredja was the general secretary throughout the history of the union.[9]

In 1957, Sarbupri formed a joint coordination body together with seven other estate workers unions.[10]

Repression and aftermath

[edit]

The exact number of Sarbupri members who fell victims of the persecutions following the 1965 coup d'état is not known. However, notably, very few former Sarbupri local branch leaders or estate representatives were alive as of the early 1980s.[11] Suparna Sastradiredja survived by being in China at the time of the coup.[9]

In several cases, children of Sarbupri leaders were forced to observe the executions of their fathers. For survivors of the repression, their membership in Sarbupri continued to constitute a social stigma for many years to come. In the New Order, former Sarbupri members were often blacklisted and fired from employment at plantation estates (although such moves were difficult to implement at estates where around 90% of the staff had once belonged to Sarbupri). As late as 1976, mass lay-offs of former Sarbupri members took place in Sumatra, actions motivated by the communist past of these individuals.[11] In the wake of the crushing of Sarbupri, use of temporary labour increased markedly.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Galenson, Walter. Labor in Developing Economies. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1962. p. 105
  2. ^ a b Hindley, Donald. The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. xvi
  3. ^ Stoler, Ann Laura. Capitalism and Confrontation in Sumatra's Plantation Belt, 1870-1979. Ann Arbor, Mich: The University of Michigan Press, 1995. p. 220
  4. ^ Hindley, Donald. The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. 133
  5. ^ a b Hindley, Donald. The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. 141
  6. ^ Hindley, Donald. The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. 148
  7. ^ a b Stoler, Ann Laura. Capitalism and Confrontation in Sumatra's Plantation Belt, 1870-1979. Ann Arbor, Mich: The University of Michigan Press, 1995. p. 168
  8. ^ Lev, Daniel S., and Ruth McVey. Making Indonesia: [Essays on Modern Indonesia in Honor of George McT. Kahin]. Studies on Southeast Asia, no. 20. Ithaca, N.Y.: Southeast Asia Program, Cornell University, 1996. p. 102
  9. ^ a b International Institute of Social History. Indonesia
  10. ^ Hindley, Donald. The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. 150
  11. ^ a b Stoler, Ann Laura. Capitalism and Confrontation in Sumatra's Plantation Belt, 1870-1979. Ann Arbor, Mich: The University of Michigan Press, 1995. pp. 163-164
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