(en) Indonesia, anarkis.org - "We Strike, Sailing Ship Can
not go!" - The Story of a Marine Workers [machine translation]
But yes it is, His name is also sycophant yes. Meanwhile, many who ignored the captain.
Below, we discuss our action again just now. Many new comrades first strike, and a
realization that the sailors have the power to force companies without negotiation. ---- B
ummi beehive (28) is one of the marine sector workers who have been working on the ship
and the port for approximately 7 years. He was born in Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, and grew
up in Tandes, Surabaya. Born in a family and grows in the labor environment makes it
familiar with the activity of the labor movement. Before becoming a sailor, he has been
involved in the union, and the anarcho-syndicalist labor organization, which until now was
built with his friends. Education at the academy, brought it into the twisted life of
workers in the oceans.
On September 2012, when the ship where she worked until in the middle of the Banda Sea, he
and all workers plan strike ships at dock Tobelo. The absence of health and life insurance
makes workers inflamed vessels. Conflict and tension for 4 hours in the dock finally urged
the company to meet the demands. The victory is still burned into memory Bummi and
friends, bring a speck of spirit and consciousness that the workers had the power if they
unite against the company without compromise.
On Saturday, July 4th, 2015, Anarkis.org conduct video calls with Bummi. From boarding
port workers in New York City, before leaving for work at the site of pilotage operations
for six days the next day, he took time to tell his story as a marine worker, his
experience in the labor movement, as well as the views and hopes of the labor movement in
Indonesia.
Can you tell me your life journey from childhood to be a sea of workers?
I grew up in a family of workers. My mother was a housewife, my father docker. The area
where I live, in Tandes, Surabaya, is one of the great labor base, many factories and
workers' settlements. Since childhood, I was familiar with the activities of workers
ranging from demonstrations, strikes, until the songs. All I remember is the song Marsinah
in the Java language, which is full of stories about the murder Marsinah sadistic. I and
colleagues are also familiar with football tournaments organized by the joint trade unions
in each company. Each plant formed his football team which consists of workers. If there
is a match, we watch continues to be supporters . If the game is completed, the turn we
were playing [ laughs ]. So, it is seen how the activities of workers and unions pervasive
in social life in the area where I live.
I graduated from high school in 2005, seven years after Soeharto stepped down. In that
year, the activity of the labor movement is quite deserted. In 2006, I worked in a lumber
mill. But the economic conditions and poor working environment. So when we are cutting up
wood, powder strewn and dangerous for breathing. I can not stand, and finally decided to
go out after 6 months of work. In 2007, I entered the field of radio and cruise school
until graduation electronics in 2008 and began working in the sea, at a shipping company.
Until now, I continue to work on the marine sector with different companies.
How does the process of closeness with the discourse and practice of the labor movement?
While working at a lumber mill, I was active in the PUK SPSI. However, yes it is, the
organization is active only when the coordination of action ahead of May Day [ laughs ].
In addition, I met with friends close to the discourse and practice of social movements. I
read Karl Marx from the book of a friend who studied at the University of Airlangga. The
reference book, I read references to understand the left as Marxism, anarchism,
syndicalism, and began looking for yourself on the internet. I then met with many activist
circles and occasionally participate in their forum discussions. The majority, I am close
to the circles of the anarchist movement.
In 2011-12, we built Workers Power Syndicate (WPS) in Surabaya. We started from meetings
and discussions about anarchism. After several meetings, the organization began to emerge
embryo, which each make an agreement and a commitment to organize in the workplace each.
This promotes the organization of anarchist tendencies, but the emphasis is on things
methodically rather than theoretical. So, departing from real economic problems of
workers, we try to encourage action through anarchist methods. We also extend WPS to
several cities, namely Gresik, Sidoarjo, and Cibinong. In Gresik, had an interesting
direct action. Thus, the workers had occupied, confiscated and even sell the house boss,
then the result is divided equally average worker comrades. But lately, WPS stumbled after
several organizers involved less substantial problems for the labor movement.
What do you think distinguishes marine workers with workers in other sectors?
Shipyard workers, particularly sailors, have specialized skills gained from education
special skills anyway. In addition, the close cooperation on the boat build emotional
intimacy. Realizing skills in particular, marine workers have bargaining power relatively
more robust in the face of the boss, for example, in salary negotiations. Sea workers tend
not to pass the path of negotiation. The realization that "companies who need us, not we
who need company" relatively stronger in this sector.
Sea workers often also do activities 'dark' to benefit the economy, such as oil sales,
sales charge, and their results for the average. Outside agreement with the company, the
sale of 'dark' is often the case. Moreover, the salary of sailors in Indonesia, especially
ABK, there are still paid about 1 million per month.
Moreover, to my knowledge, there has been no revolutionary organization for sea workers.
Solidarity is usually only occurs in one vessel only because workers often meet.
Can describe a little bit about the division of labor and relations between workers inside
the ship?
Division of labor and social relations in the vessel is hierarchical. People perceive and
respect for others from office. At the top, there is the captain of the ship. Generally,
the captain of the ship is the person or company representative who has full authority to
regulate and monitor the activities of the crew, including prohibiting the activities of a
'dark' is, and suppress the efficiency of corporate spending in the interest of the
company. So, the captain of the ship is usually very siding companies.
Beneath it there are three departments, namely the engine department, the deck department
and radio department. Each department was headed by three officers in charge of ship's Men
(ABK). No officer in the engine department machine (engineer), Foreman, spokesman Oil,
Electrician, Fitter and Weeper. On the deck department, there is a deck officer (chief
officer) attack (daily work coordinator), helmsman, sailors and cadets. The radio
department, no radio officer (wireless operator) in charge of chefs and waiters to arrange
food and finance, and administration of the ship.
This structure greatly affect relationships on board. Captain and officers issued
instructions, crews must obey. Even the table, place, and type of food was distinguished.
ABK is not allowed to eat in the room, table, and food officer. But interestingly, the
officer could still be affected by the class below. Due to such a division of labor is
only valid on the boat, then when on land or outside working hours to do so differently.
Officers sometimes mocked when it's on land, they own was either embarrassed or bored
ruled out on that boat crew finally asked not to mention or allude position while on land.
Moreover, if anyone trader who knows that a particular person is an officer, usually
traders love expensive prices for officers [ laughs ].
Photos Bummi joint crew in 2012, in Luwuk, Banggai. The crew is holding regular monthly
event, ie meals together on a bit of money results 'unpredictable' they get.
What happens in Tobelo in September 2012, and how the chronology?
At that time the wind was blowing from the east. We were in the Banda Sea, the distance is
2 days of Tobelo. The idea of spontaneous strike emerged from talks at lunchtime, and
eventually spread to the heads of other friends. So, while eating, there are nyeletuk,
"It's all there in boats, cargo ships, insured, while we were brought the ship. If
anything happened to the ship, sinking, then we are lost, we and the family can what? "
The talks addressed and so serious among the crew, spread to the deck and engine
coordinator, until officers. Because the bulkhead place and position, the captain did not
eat with us, and do not know the passage of the talks and our activities below. We agreed
to make a warrant signed by all the crew. We asked the captain for his signature as well,
but he does not want, and even grumpy. Finally, we ignore the captain and immediately send
the results of the scan-scanan letter to the company via e-mail.
2 day passes, but the company did not respond. Finally, we send a letter of demand again
for the second time. However, until we arrived at Tobelo and fell to the ground, there has
been no response. I met the crew one by one to continue talks on land. The movements of
the ship's captain has been uncomfortable with the actions we. Three days in Tobelo, we
were unloading the ship as usual. Until the last day, and the ship ready to leave, the
company had not yet responded. Finally, we agreed to strike until the demands are met.
Because we know, if we were to strike, the ship can not sail!
Ships ready to leave. Captain issued a one-hour notice (notification 1 hour before
departure), and I asked to notify to each room and the crew, the crew until the officers
of the department. But all agreed on strike, refusing to sail. The machine is not turned
on, all the crew down to the pier, we walked out, empty vessels, and live alone on the
bridge of the ship captain. I was asked by comrades remain in the radio station to monitor
communication with the company.
Captain angry and office phone. "Already, they just fired all of this!" He said angrily on
the phone. Meanwhile in the dock, already crowded at all since the pier would be used by
the next ship. Port authorities forced the country to come and crew to climb, some of the
crew almost noisier with the state authorities, while the rest is still sitting around and
survive in the wharf.
4 hours passed, more and more crowded pier. We survive because they know our position
stronger. Company threatened a big loss if you do not comply with our demands: the
delivery crew of replacement is difficult and costly because we were away from the
company's headquarters in Surabaya. The local ship agent and syahbandar offer for
negotiations. But we refused and continue to survive. In desperation, the company finally
agreed to all our demands. We win! We were asked to come back soon to sign the files of
our insurance.
During the trip home, the grumpy captain. "This is what you really sailors on strike any
use! This company great loss! "He said. But yes it is, His name is also sycophant yes [
laughs ]. Meanwhile, many who ignored the captain. Below, we discuss our action again just
now. Many new comrades first strike, and a realization that the sailors have the power to
force companies without negotiation.
How the subsequent development of post strike?
Well, this is important is observed. Most of the crew then ignited only if there are
economic problems alone. But after the economic issue is completed, the demand is not
there anymore, it's gone back to normality work. His job then is how to maintain this
economic awareness persists and pushed up into political consciousness. Political
education is one of the key.
Is there an action experience that fail?
Yes, here. Recent economic struggle we fail in another company where I work now, in one of
the companies engaged in foreign ship pilotage services in Samarinda. Because of this work
on the ground, then the composition and the relationship was different with the workers on
board. We tried to sue the improvement of economic conditions, but failed for several reasons.
First, because there are differences in the composition of workers here. On the one hand,
there are specific skills training based sailors cruise like me. On the other hand, there
are workers whose educational background are more common, such as the scholar. The first
group had a relative bargaining position is stronger because there are not many, and
cultures closer to each other. Meanwhile, the second group is more likely to be safe, find
survivors and compromise, and the culture is more individualistic.
Second, much tighter control of the company here. Home base of the company is the city
with the location of work, and when the demands put forward, the company can quickly
intimidate and break the workers. If we slightly protruding and invited to discuss
something outside of work, the company quickly out. Supposing, "walls also have ears"
because many workers still loyal to the company. So, which are more prevalent is the
horizontal conflicts, between workers who want to change with their sycophants. I think we
need to learn from the experienced labor union strike and mobilize thousands of workers on
the ground.
What are your views on the majority of trade unions in Indonesia?
First, the structure of the union is still centralized and elitist is a problem. Except in
the PUK-PUK his normally occupied by the workers themselves, the majority of the structure
above the PUK-PUK is filled by elites who do not work like other workers, but only so the
union and salaried bureaucrats. I do not agree with such a structure. We do not need to
hire a separate person and just so bureaucratic organization only. This will create a gap
with the workers, thus forming an intellectual minority clans paid in labor organizations.
I do not agree.
Secondly, this gap is finally making power at the level of the corrupt elite, while the
majority of union members so not too concerned with the management of the organization.
Workers' control over their own organizations slack. Finally, many who joined the union as
a formality and did not have a sense of belonging. I never get involved in trade union
action in Indonesia which can degrade the thousands of workers. But I heard himself
telling the workers that they do not enjoy the action, purely happy just because clustered.
This gap can also be seen from how the action of sweeping labor when a massive strike.
Many unions coercive action by forcing workers to take action. This kind of thing does not
resolve the main problems: the lack of intense labor education. The proof, many workers
who actually go home or break rather than fought. Struggle departing from coercion is
difficult to succeed.
Lack of education is also often back again to the corrupt elites that labor unions.
Revenues union, through dues of workers, for example, that's great tuh. Often output using
that to fight it minimal. Education-education rarely done. In fact, there is one union in
Surabaya was purely a formality. The union officers asked permission to the company to
make the union. Already finished, but ga real activity. Cooperation with personnel with
specific deal, then the salary each month will be listed on the pay stub information in
"Cost of Trade Unions". Well, many workers are not aware of this.
Should the union bisalah allocate a minimum of education and its facilities every month.
Results minimal education can make terbitin regular newsletter, and distributed free of
charge to all workers. But this rarely happens. Yes one of them because of the dominance
and control of union elites before, and the indifference of the workers themselves. These
elites usually resistant to the 'outside' who tried to bring revolutionary ideas. So
ignorance, indifference is intentionally treated economic revenue base so that they do not
run. Often these elites have the heart to break up solidarity among workers to retain
their workers bases.
What is your view about the solution to the problems the majority of trade unions in
Indonesia?
Firstly, we as workers must put suspicion and criticality of the elites and the labor
union structure elitist. Apply strict control, criticism and audit work of our union
elites, the audit of income and expenditure of the union. Check whether the income is in
accordance with the expenditure of labor progress.
Second, allocate more resources to the education of intense labor. Education is indeed
targeting the awareness from the inside. After this culture awoke, probably could only see
the possibility of the formation of unions or labor organizations are decentralized and
not elitist.
Questions cover. How do you think the opportunities and possibilities for the formation of
unions or labor organizations are decentralized, non-elitist even anarchist?
There is still a very long way towards decentralized labor unions, non-elitist especially
anarchists.
But I believe, decentralized labor organization is an organization that is ideal for the
development of a genuine workers 'power, workers' control of the whole of the bottom,
where people learn from each other. I looked, was the elitist union structures that impede
efficiency and effectiveness of the labor movement.
We also need to reduce and eventually eliminate the dependence on hierarchical command. So
enough consensus or collective agreements written on paper that was the basis of our work
and movement. So, that is the agreement of members of the command. No longer command by
certain people, but the deal is already agreed upon and printed. This is probably one of
the bid to break reliance on elites. Furthermore, it should also be reduced outposts that
put minority professional, paid but not worked, and alienated from the majority of
workers. Departments in the trade unions must be filled out and run by the workers
themselves. Organizations such as union workers should only be servants.
Humans are basically does not want to be governed as laborers working is the most knows
its needs. Elites in organizations of workers who do not work and are not directly
involved in the operation of capital in the workplace ultimately alienated from their own
labor, and so the local authorities. In addition, often theories are also not in
accordance with the reality on the ground. The theories we learned should continue to be
tested by the experience of the workers directly and solved in practice.
Okay, Bummi, thank you for your time and story. Greetings comrades in New York City!
Yes, you are welcome. Greetings comrades there too ya! []
