''Sarbufis'', short for ''Sarekat Buruh Film dan Sandiwara'' (Film and Theatre Workers Union), was a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

. Sarbufis was affiliated to the trade union centre

SOBSI The ''All-Indonesian Federation of Workers Organisations ( id, Sentral Organisasi Buruh Seluruh Indonesia (SOBSI)) was the largest trade union federation in Indonesia.Glassburner, Bruce. The Economy of Indonesia: Selected Readings'. Jakarta: Equi ...

, which was linked to the

Communist Party of Indonesia The Communist Party of Indonesia (Indonesian: ''Partai Komunis Indonesia'', PKI) was a communist party in Indonesia during the mid-20th century. It was the largest non-ruling communist party in the world before its violent disbandment in 1965. ...

. As of January 1960, Sarbufis claimed a membership of 6,000.Hindley, Donald.
The Communist Party of Indonesia, 1951-1963
'. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964. p. 142 Kastari was the general secretary of Sarbufis. The organization was founded in 1951, with the name ''Sarekat Buruh Film Indonesia'' (Film Workers Union of Indonesia, abbreviated ''Sarbufi''). It was the first professional organization of the workers of the film industry. The union joined SOBSI immediately after its formation. The second Sarbufi congress, held in 1953, adopted the name Sarbufis. Amongst the members of Sarbufis were actors of ''

ketoprak ''Ketoprak'' ( jv, ꧋ꦏꦺꦛꦺꦴꦥꦿꦏ꧀, Kethoprak) is a theatrical genre of Java featuring actors who may also sing to the accompaniment of the gamelan. It draws its stories from Javanese history and romances and in this differs from ...

'', a form of

Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's List ...

nese traditional drama with political commentary. However, the main activity of the union remained in the film sector. In 1955 Sarbufis initiated a campaign to ban American newsreel films. The union stated that the American newsreels propagated nuclear war.University of Sydney.
Review of Indonesian and Malayan Affairs
', Volume 19. Sydney: 1985. pp. 15-18 The Jakarta branch of Sarbufis claimed to have collected thousands of signatures supporting their demand, including that of prominent film maker Tan Sing Hwat (a prominent director,

LEKRA The Lembaga Kebudajaan Rakjat (Enhanced Indonesian Spelling System, EYD: Lembaga Kebudayaan Rakyat, often abbreviated Lekra; meaning Institute for the People's Culture) was a very prolific literary and social movement associated with the Indonesian ...

member and an official of Sarbufis). Later, Sarbufis took part in founding the Action Committee for Boycott of Imperialist American Films. Moreover, the organization called for banning of British imports in 1963, in response to the expulsion of the Indonesian consulate from

Sabah Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah borders the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and the North Kalimantan province of Indone ...

. Sarbufis was crushed following the 1965 coup d'état. The organization was formally banned on 12 March 1966.Winarno, Ateng.
Kamus singkatan dan akronim: baru dan lama
'. Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kanisius, 1990. p. 578

References

{{Authority control Central All-Indonesian Workers Organization Entertainment industry unions Trade unions established in 1951 Trade unions disestablished in 1966 Film organizations in Indonesia 1951 establishments in Indonesia 1966 disestablishments in Indonesia