By FX Supiarso, Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation and Ended Purwanto, Indonesian Workers Theatre
Translated by Selma Widhi Hayati
Trade unions in developed countries already use the Internet as a tool to organise. There is much proof that this technology can advance the interests of the working class but unfortunately trade unions in developing country have not yet managed to take advantage of it. Many workers dismiss the subject because they do not understand it, and because of its high profile, believe it to be nothing more than a fashion accessory. This is certainly the attitude of many Indonesians where most Internet users are politicos, white-collar workers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), bureaucrats, academics and students.
Effective and efficient communications between worker movements around the world are important in order to achieve international worker solidarity on the same level as capital which uses it to oppress the working class.
Traditional communications between worker organisations by faxes, publications, and exchange programmes are outdated. Now worker action is happening increasingly often.
LISTSERV subscribers can easily maintain labour networks and immediately know about workers' events all around the world.
Capital can relocate easily from one developing country to another. Indirectly it decreases workers' confidence to fightback to restore state involvement in labour relations. Transnational corporations and other capitalist organisations can also develop and use IT very well, especially to control workers. If we need our communications systems to match those of capitalists, there is no more effective way than maximising Internet functions.
Obstacles to Progress
There are several difficulties for trade unions in the Third World to use the Internet.
One of the biggest problems is that union organising is still done by traditional communications. Although there are groups of workers who know how to use IT, most people have never even heard of it. Many who have heard do not really understand what it is, mistakenly assuming that IT functions are limited to office work. Even worse, some people believe that only educated people could possibly understand it.
Many workers who have access to IT equipment use it for everyday functions, but do not use it to build up networks of contacts and during disputes. Others are aware of IT possibilities, but cannot afford to buy a computer, and long hours of overtime limits their time to learn and saps their energy.
New Ways to Access the Internet
Now there are computer rental firms hiring computers connected to the Internet by the hour, especially in Jakarta, Tangerang and Bekasi. These companies usually supply technical help for learners, and workers visiting the rental shops find that their initial confusion soon turns to confidence after a few visits.
But these shops are usually far away from worker communities; it takes almost an hour for most workers to visit a shop. This problem is aggravated by working hours - many workers have a 10 hour day, seven days a week.
Obviously rental shops (also known as Cyber Cafes and Internet Cafes) close to worker communities would encourage workers to use them.
There are many ways to access the Internet such as private or works' computer, and Cyber Cafes that have expanded rapidly around campuses and shopping centres.
However, cost has to be considered, and they are too expensive for most individuals. To access the Internet for an hour, rental costs workers a whole day's pay - from Rp7,000 (under US$1.00) per hour.
Even if we have access to a computer, we must pay telephone hire fees which are rising sharply because of the present economic crisis, and because of privatisation.
It is often more expensive in the long run to access the Internet by personal/institutional computer than computer rental.
Moreover, Cyber Cafes may be cheap compared to some countries, but it is a financial problem for most Indonesians.
Most trade unions here cannot afford to buy legal software, for example the McAffe anti-virus software costs US$29. But Internet use by trade unions in Indonesia will flourish because pirated versions of software like Microsoft Office cost only US$3. But with WTO enforcing intellectual property rights, it is not certain that this situation will exist forever.
Another solution is for different groups of workers to share resources and expenses. This applies particularly where work places are close together, like Export Processing Zones, and Industrial Zones and Parks, where communal use could make costs acceptable.
Open Source
One way to respond to the situation is to use 'Open Source' software. It was introduced in the 1960s for IBM compatible software. At that time access to software information was given without charge. The attitude changed when the relationship between production and the distribution of capital became more complex, and Source Codes became more valuable.
Capital in developed countries focuses on capital intensive industries, meanwhile labour intensive industries relocate to developing countries. This explains why technological development of capital intensive industries occurs in developed rather than developing countries.
Many software companies have been created to support the accumulation of capital. It was very different with 'Open Source' in the 1960s, when companies gave the Source Code to the public. Regulations governing Intellectual Property Rights support the companies' source code system, and lets them make high profits from the monopoly.
Users cannot know the weakness of the software, and are victims because of that. But Source Codes do not allow users to apply other software, making them dependent on the monopoly of a 'Source Code'.
The Open Source movement is growing again with the creation of a Linux Operation System. Until now Open Source was the same as Linux, created by Linus Torvalds. In 1991 he wanted to create a clone of UNIX that can be used for his notebook [or laptop]. With other programmers around the world he developed and improved the operational system. Its abilities were better than commercial operations systems because it did not depend on investment costs but more on the resources of other programmers around the world.
Because of its Open Source character, Linux can be found easily and downloaded from the Internet for free. The distributors load software on CD Roms or other media but the user only pays for the medium not the software, like Redhat, Suse, Turbolinux, and Slackware. Intel 486 and Multi Processor can operate the software. The real advantage is that a trade union that cannot afford a computer can obtain one free because big companies throw them away. For users, Open Source (read Linux) is really good. Users need only give their hardware specifications, and the Open Source will operate the hardware. The present situation is dominated by the software company. Users spend more and more updating old products.
Updates often only affect software accessories and do not improve general performance, but are needed for the sake of software or hardware compatibility.
The system works against poor people such as the working class, small farmers, and urban poor. Companies 'justify' updates by claiming the need to 'improve' technology.
The progress of Linux or Open Source is called the 'Bazaar' model, meaning there is no centralisation of development, just an agreement to co-operate between the developers. It offers other adaptations for the operating system to be customised such as language, terms, icons, manuals, or other features according to the needs of a particular community. This presents opportunities for worker activists, trade unions, and NGOs to concentrate on the labour movement. Previously, before the current advances in Open Source, the development of software was limited to programmers or people with computer and scientific backgrounds. But with Open Source, development is available to users who do not have computer/science background.
Publicity about IT among trade unions is essential. The system will be wasted if unions do not understand the potential to improve organisation and rapid communication. As Eric Lee of LabourStart said, the Internet is only a supplement not a substitute for worker activity.
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