Organising fishery workers in the Indonesian Aru Islands is far from easy. With extremely long working hours, there is very little time for factory workers to meet with union organisers and most worry about losing their jobs if they join the union.
According to Destructive Fishing Watch, UnionAID’s project partner, workers have also been targeted by criminals using traditional weaponry such as arrows. But despite these challenges there is growing interest from fishery workers in forming a union.
Under such an unsafe political climate Destructive Fishing Watch organisers have developed a less risky and more effective strategy. They know that collective awareness of the coastal issues by various groups – such as civil society, youth, students and artists – is key to building support for these most exploited of workers. So using art and film they are initiating a structured movement to educate, stimulate discussion and build a support base for union organising.
This participatory and inclusive approach has seen more women workers, who have tended to be reluctant to voice their needs, come forward to engage in informal discussions and community forums.
