Sustainable Management of The Participatory Communication Network of The State Enterprises Workers' Relations Confederation

Abstract

This research aims to study: 1) the communication network management of the State Enterprise Labor Relations Confederation (SERC), 2) the needs and expectations of members regarding their participation in the SERC network, 3) the factors affecting the management of SERC’s communication network, and 4) guidelines for improving the communication network management of SERC. This qualitative research involved in-depth interviews with 21 key informants selected by purposive sampling. The tool used was a structured interview, and data were analyzed to draw conclusions. The research findings revealed that: 1. SERC serves as the communication hub between the executive committee and the central committee of 41 organizations, playing a pivotal role in linking information to members. The communication network is used to control content before being relayed to members. 2. Member organizations’ participation is driven by ideological demands, such as opposing state enterprise privatization. The network supports members' expectations in three stages: Stage 1: Listening to problems and providing initial advice; Stage 2: Holding meetings to find solutions; Stage 3: Initiating the process that leads to demands. The communication network is employed to exchange information for tracking, gathering, solving problems, and monitoring. 3. External political factors impact the network due to the authority to set welfare policies, while internal personnel factors affect development, as members are crucial to network growth. The communication network is also used to build alliances or affiliations, such as the “Electricity, Waterworks, and Medicine for the Nation” group, which divides members based on the impact of the issues. 4. Guidelines for sustainable network development are as follows: 1) Develop the membership role in connecting with external organizations, such as international labor networks; 2) Enhance cooperation within the network by using communication technologies that are convenient, engaging, timely, multi-channel, and easy to store data; and 3) Promote network sustainability by organizing joint activities, such as International Workers' Day events, and using the communication network to foster learning, as the network has personnel, academic, and financial resources. The recommendation is to use the communication network to promote participation and listen to feedback between the government and labor parties concerning the State Enterprise Labor Relations Act, as labor parties are more likely to accept regulations they have had a role in shaping.