Sarbupri
Encyclopedia
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. Sarbupri was affiliated to the trade union centre SOBSI, which was linked to the Communist Party of Indonesia
.
tactics in case of a Dutch advance.
The Sarbupri chairman Maruto Darusman was killed in the midst of the 1948 Madiun revolt
.
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.
Suparna Sastradiredja was the general secretary throughout the history of the union.
In 1957, Sarbupri formed a joint coordination body together with seven other estate workers unions.
at the time of the coup.
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. In the wake of the crushing of Sarbupri, use of temporary labour increased markedly.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
of plantation estate workers in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. As of the late 1950s, it was the largest trade union in the country. Sarbupri was affiliated to the trade union centre SOBSI, which was linked to the Communist Party of Indonesia
Communist Party of Indonesia
The Communist Party of Indonesia was the largest non-ruling communist party in the world prior to being crushed in 1965 and banned the following year.-Forerunners:...
.
Indonesian National Revolution
Sarbupri was founded in February 1947. Sarbupri initially worked only in the Republican-held areas. 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 earthScorched earth
A scorched earth policy is a military strategy or operational method which involves destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through or withdrawing from an area...
tactics in case of a Dutch advance.
The Sarbupri chairman Maruto Darusman was killed in the midst of the 1948 Madiun revolt
Madiun Affair
The Madiun Affair was a communist uprising in 1948 during the Indonesian National Revolution in the town of Madiun. Leftist parties led an uprising against the leaders of the newly-declared Indonesian Republic, but it was quashed by Republican forces....
.
Strikes of 1950 & 1953
In the early 1950s Sarbupri was the sole estate workers trade union of national importance in the country. 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.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.
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. Sarbupri published the journal Warta Sarbupri.Suparna Sastradiredja was the general secretary throughout the history of the union.
In 1957, Sarbupri formed a joint coordination body together with seven other estate workers unions.
Repression and aftermath
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. Suparna Sastradiredja survived by being in ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
at the time of the coup.
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
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, actions motivated by the communist past of these individuals. In the wake of the crushing of Sarbupri, use of temporary labour increased markedly.