Serbuni
Encyclopedia
Serbuni, short for Serikat Buruh Unilever Indonesia ('Unilever Workers Union of Indonesia'), was a trade union
of workers at the factories of Unilever
in Indonesia
. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Serbuni was the largest of the four trade unions at the Unilever factories in the country. Serbuni was affiliated to the trade union centre SOBSI, which was linked to the Communist Party of Indonesia
(PKI). K. Werdojo was the general secretary of Serbuni.
From 1956 onwards unions at the four Unilever factories in Indonesia (three in Djakarta, one in Surabaya
) became increasingly active, particularly Serbuni. The unions demands shares of the profits of the factories. Serbuni initiated militant agitations at the time of the 1963/1964 Konfrontasi, following similar attacks at the British Embassy and Shell Oil installations. In December 1963 the organization began picketing Unilever factories. In the latter half of January 1964, the union tried to capture the Djakarta head office and factories of Unilever. On January 18, 1964 Serbuni seized control over the Angke factory in Djakarta. A statement issued by Serbuni claimed that the occupation was a reaction to Konfrontasi, British imperialism, seizure of two Hajj
ships and statements made by president Sukarno
. The unionists were however expelled by local police. The union tried to occupy the Colibri factory in Surabaya on January 25, 1964, but were evicted by police. At Angke a joint supervisory committee with Serbuni representation was instituted by the police, whilst at Colibri control was handed back to the Unilever management.
David Kenneth Fieldhouse
argues that Serbuni did not formally seize control of the Unilever factories, as foreign enterprises taken over by unions were nationalized by presidential decree. In the nationalized industries independent unions were banned, a move that would have threatened the position of Serbuni. Thus Fieldhouse states that Serbuni's actions at the time of Konfrontasi actually sought to prevent nationalization.
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 workers at the factories of Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
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...
. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Serbuni was the largest of the four trade unions at the Unilever factories in the country. Serbuni 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:...
(PKI). K. Werdojo was the general secretary of Serbuni.
From 1956 onwards unions at the four Unilever factories in Indonesia (three in Djakarta, one in Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
) became increasingly active, particularly Serbuni. The unions demands shares of the profits of the factories. Serbuni initiated militant agitations at the time of the 1963/1964 Konfrontasi, following similar attacks at the British Embassy and Shell Oil installations. In December 1963 the organization began picketing Unilever factories. In the latter half of January 1964, the union tried to capture the Djakarta head office and factories of Unilever. On January 18, 1964 Serbuni seized control over the Angke factory in Djakarta. A statement issued by Serbuni claimed that the occupation was a reaction to Konfrontasi, British imperialism, seizure of two Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
ships and statements made by president Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
. The unionists were however expelled by local police. The union tried to occupy the Colibri factory in Surabaya on January 25, 1964, but were evicted by police. At Angke a joint supervisory committee with Serbuni representation was instituted by the police, whilst at Colibri control was handed back to the Unilever management.
David Kenneth Fieldhouse
David Kenneth Fieldhouse
David Kenneth Fieldhouse, FBA is a prominent historian of the British Empire who between 1981 and 1992 held the Vere Harmsworth Professorship of Imperial and Naval History at the University of Cambridge...
argues that Serbuni did not formally seize control of the Unilever factories, as foreign enterprises taken over by unions were nationalized by presidential decree. In the nationalized industries independent unions were banned, a move that would have threatened the position of Serbuni. Thus Fieldhouse states that Serbuni's actions at the time of Konfrontasi actually sought to prevent nationalization.