Workplace and Community: the social and cultural processes of labour movements
Hari Nugroho explores the role of local dynamics in shaping Indonesian labour movements. By focusing on the micro-level, this research reveals how labour organisation strategies are influenced by individual actors' personal histories, their interactions, and the way in which they respond the local economic and political conditions. This approach fills a gap in labour studies by emphasizing the importance of social and cultural processes in understanding the diverse challenges leaders face within union movements, beyond institutional frameworks.
Nugroho's research Workplace and Community: Workers’ politics of representation in Semarang and Pekalongan, Central Java’ compares two types of workers' organisations: workplace unionism, which defends workers' interests through workplace-based activities; and community unionism, which advocates not only for workers but also for a broader range of people. He conducted his fieldwork in Pekalongan and Semarang, two industrial regions of Central Java, Indonesia. Nugroho explored the factors that drive workers to develop these different organisations and the impact this has on the relationships between union organisers and those they represent.
Exploring Union Innovations
Nugroho: “This study has been driven by the combination of personal experiences and the academic process. In the beginning, I was particularly impressed by the enthusiasm of several union organisers in Pekalongan, one of my research sites, who were striving to develop a form of unionism that was still quite uncommon in Indonesia at the time. When I proposed this as a topic for my PhD research at Leiden University, discussions with my supervisors led to a comparison with more traditional forms of unionism commonly found in Indonesia, such as the union in Semarang. This raised the question: Why did a few union-activists’ experiment with innovative alternatives; and why did others continue to focus on traditional union models amidst the existing economic changes?”
Rise of alternative forms of workers’ organisations
As his research progressed and Nugroho deepened his understanding of the topic, he found this comparison increasingly compelling and meaningful. “I observed that the rise of alternative forms of workers' organisations has become more necessary, especially in light of recent changes in Indonesia’s political landscape and the evolving nature of works.”
The importance of locality in understanding the development of labour movements
Nugroho’s dissertation research highlights the importance of locality in understanding the development of labour movements. It is at the local level that labour organisers face their most complex challenges. In this context, they must navigate the interplay between the organisational strategies they adopt and the diverse realities of the people they represent—both union members and other community groups whose interests they are fighting for. Nugroho: “This research is significant because it emphasises the role of individual actors, their subjectivity, their personal histories, and their interactions in the analysis of social movements––particularly labour movements.”
Understanding the role of individual actors and diversity in Indonesian Labour Movements
This analysis explores how individual actors connect with economic and political contexts across different times and places. It adds to Indonesian labour studies, which often focus on institutions but overlook the smaller social and cultural dynamics. These dynamics are key to understanding why labour movements can vary, even in similar regions and under the same national economic and political conditions, including global influences. Furthermore, this research helps labour organisation leaders, especially in Indonesia, to recognise the signficance of the diverse identities and political views of their members. These differences in diversity present complexities that are often challenging to manage, particularly when leaders are not fully aware of their intricate nature.
Banner Photo by H. Nugroho - Workers' demonstration in Indonesia 2008