27 September, 2011Indonesian union leaders met for a strategy and planning meeting in Jakarta, and agreed on a joint organizing plan. Through a project supported by SASK 6000 workers should be recruited to FSPMI and Lomenik during 2011.
INDONESIA: With only a few months to go until the International Metalworkers' Federation Central Committee meeting in Jakarta, union leaders from FSPMI, LOMENIK and LEM met at a national strategy and planning workshop as part of a project supported by SASK. The outcome was a joint organizing plan for 2011 which will see 6,000 workers join FSPMI and Lomenik before the end of December, and a future organizing plan for 2012-2014. The unions are also developing joint solidarity actions, a written statement on non-competition when recruiting new members and national cooperation.
Initially the SASK project is for 3 months but a further project for 2012-2014 will be developed and proposed. The challenges facing the unions are Indonesia being spread across 17,000 islands, low union density in the metal sector, fragmentation of the unions and restrictive labor laws. The extremely high number of workers on short term contracts make it difficult to recruit and retain members.
FSPMI and Lomenik are affiliates of the IMF, and LEM participated as an observer. The 3 unions between them cover around 300,000 metalworkers. The main focus of the project will be to build the union's membership base in the industrial areas where metal transnational companies are operating.
Said Iqbal, General Secretary of FSPMI, told the participants "This project will give us a new dimension to consider in our future sustainability. We are committed to achieving this".
Participants in the meeting agreed to create national structures to improve communications between the 3 unions, and to develop a common action plan to build mutual respect. In a new approach to make these structures sustainable the unions will take on more individual and collective responsibility each year of the project. At an IMF project meeting due to be held in Jakarta on December 4 the unions will present their action plan and progress to date. The three unions will also work together on an organizing strategy that will see activities carried out in Aceh, North Sulawesi, North Sumatra, and South Sulawesi.
Rob Johnston, IMF Executive Director, concluded the meeting saying "The union leaders in Indonesia have a vitally important role to play in the region. Leading by example and developing a strong national voice for workers is an important first step - I believe we have the basis of an agreement that will achieve that".