1951 – 1980
CIA report, 26 February 1951, on alleged communist-directed strike sabotage in Indonesia via SOBSI and WFTU. Gerwani-relevant only for naming a batik workers' union organised by Mrs Trimurti.
Antara news roundup, Indische Courant voor Nederland, 13 May 1953, p. 4 (4-7 May). Relevant item: Setiati Surasto, Maasje Siwi and Kartinah left for the WIDF congress in Copenhagen. Rest covers the bank strike, the 17 October affair and the Wilopo cabinet's refusal to seek a confidence vote.
De Vrije Pers fragment (17 Sep 1953) on trade-union reactions to the Sarbupri plantation workers' strike. It notes that the BTI's second congress, attended by SOBSI, Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwis representatives, declared solidarity with the strike and instructed its branches to support strikers.
Het Vrije Volk opinion piece 'Fouten van vroeger' (14 May 1954, p.15) on Indonesian labour relations: SOBSI has profited from foreign employers' past neglect, the government chooses political over economic paths, and when strike leaders are prosecuted SOBSI and the communist women's association Gerwis appear in court w
Brief Algemeen Indisch Dagblad item (1955-08-13, p. 2): during the Public Works workers' strike, the women's organisation Gerwani declared solidarity with the strikers, as did the metalworkers' union SBIM and the SOBSI branch in Bandung.
De Nieuwsgier item (7 Aug 1956): railway union SBKA strike in Jember halted two goods trains; the local Gerwani branch voluntarily supplied food to the strikers, and railway management's attempt to register absentees was withdrawn after worker reaction. An example of Gerwani solidarity with labour.
Java-Bode, 7 August 1956, p. 2: report on a railway workers' (SBKA) strike at Jember that stopped two goods trains. The Jember branch of Gerwani voluntarily supplied the strikers with food; management's attempt to register absentees was withdrawn after worker reaction, and there was no disorder.
Winschoter Courant (30 Mar 1957), news round-up. Relevant: Fatmawati Sukarno writes asking why a woman cannot form a cabinet, with a note that women's organisations took Sukarno's second marriage badly. Also Masyumi's Isa Anshary on cabinet formation, searches of Jakarta banks, and Aidit threatening a general strike un
Reader's letter in De Waarheid (15 Feb 1980, p.8) from NVB Groningen delegates, complaining that the report on the NVB's 11th congress omitted Groningen women's role in the Okto and Philips labour actions. It welcomes the coverage of the declaration on Indonesian political prisoners and 'our sister organisation Gerwani