This is an international call out in support and solidarity with the fundraising in solidarity with the Federation of General Workers Myanmar (FGWM). This call is initiated by the Free Workers’ Union (FAU) Hamburg together with the FGWM. And supported and conducted by comrades of other FAU syndicates, the IWW WISE-RA as well as Earth Strike UK.
What is it about?
The FGWM consists of 40 (factory) labour unions and keeps uniting thousands of members. It is one of the very few labour federations known to us in Asia, which follows a grassroots approach. The FGWM has its roots in the textile factories of the industrial zones in Myanmar. The vast majority of secretaries had to flee to escape pocecution by the military junta and now operates from a house in exile. Some of the comrades who initiated this fundraising met them at their house last year. They emphasized they some of them only managed to escape with the support provided by the previous fundraising done last year.
Despite the military dictatorship they continue with their efforts. The FGWM supports workers to get organised, follows labour fights (like the recent strike at Sun Apparel), which still take place under great danger, and also tries to support members facing state repression, for example seeking refuge or supporting them in prison as far as this is possible.
Another focal point is to provide training opportunities for factory workers in regards to organising and labour struggles. All of this can’t be upheld without external support. Due to the extremely precarious living conditions, which evolved especially after the military coup in February 2021, the income of membership fees collapsed. Their supportive partners on the international level are the ICL Working Group Asia as well as the Solidarity Center.
Who is behind the fundraising?
It was initiated by the Free Workers’ Union (FAU) Hamburg together with the FGWM. And by now it is being also supported and conducted by comrades of other FAU syndicates, the IWW WISE-RA as well as Earth Strike UK.
Great! So what can I do?
First of all, it would be great, if many of you discuss in your unions and labour groups, if you support the work of FGWM by simply contributing to the fundraising. You can do so with a credit card using the firefund page or by transfering to the account of FAU Hamburg.
Account name: AS FAU Hamburg | IBAN: DE43 4306 0967 2070 7898 00 | BIC: GENODEM1GLS | Bank name: GLS Bank | Purpose: FGWM solidarity
In the end all contributions will be added to the firefund page. The amounts submitted via firefund will only be deducted from your account, if the fundraising is successful, i.e. in case the goal of 15 000EUR is reached.
Furthermore you can help to inform many others about this effort by spreading the links listed at the beginning and distributing leaflets (e.g. at autonomous social centers and on social media).
Furthermore you can order a stylish solidarity shirt at DNA Merch
They will take orders until August 31st 2023 and then ask a textile/ printing collective in Croatia to make them. For more information please email: info [at] fgwm-solidarity [dot] org