Workplace and community: workers' politics of representation in Semarang and Pekalongan, Central Java

Nugroho, H. (2024)

Doctoral Thesis

Since the fall of Indonesia's authoritarian New Order, workers have faced a paradox of political and economic changes as seen in the emergence of a new labour regime. This dissertation examines two forms of unionism that have developed in response to these shifts: traditional workplace-based unionism, centred on collective bargaining, and community unionism, which fosters collaboration between unions and local organisations to address broader social issues. 

Focusing on union activities in Semarang and Pekalongan, two industrial regions in Central Java, the author argues that the development of these models is shaped by both local structural forces and the strategic responses of unionists as movement agents. While both forms emphasize welfare struggles and have equally ventured into community activism through social advocacy and electoral politics, they differ significantly in the scale of resources mobilised and the values they promote within their constituencies. These differences influence how unionists engage with the diverse groups they represent, as they navigate the complexities of managing a broad and varied constituent base, reflecting the consequences of each union model.

• Trade union
• Labour movement
• Workplace unionism
• Community unionism
• Representation
• Indonesia

• All authors: Nugroho, H.
• Supervisor: Barendregt, B.A.
• Co-supervisor: Saptari Soetikno Slamet, R.
• Committee: Spierenburg, M.J.; Suhardiman, D.; Bedner, A.W.; Berenschot, W.J.; Juliawan, B.H.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University
• Date: 2024-10-18
• Sponsorship: The Joint scholarship of DIKTI (the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research and Technology - MOECRT) of Indonesia, and Leiden University