Fwd (GLW): Dita Sari thanks MUA

["Alan Bradley" <alanb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The following article appears in the current issue of Green Left Weekly
(http://www.greenleft.org.au):

Dita Sari thanks MUA
BY ROBERT DARCY

SYDNEY ? Dita Sari, chairperson of the Indonesian National Front for Labour
Struggles (FNPBI), has written to the central New South Wales branch of the
Maritime Union of Australia to thank the union for funding a number of
FNPBI union organisers.

Sari reported that, in recent months, there have been a number of strikes
for better wages and shorter working hours. One strike in East Java
involved 100,000 workers.

The democratic space in Indonesia since the overthrow of the dictator
Suharto has allowed new active union formations to grow. A lack of funds
has been one of the main obstacles to building stronger unions.

In responding to the FNPBI's call to Australian unionists for assistance,
the central NSW branch has continued the MUA's great tradition of
international solidarity, and has set an example for other unions to
follow.