Would you like to come along to a plenary meeting? Get a taste of trade union work? Meet new people and develop rebellious ideas together?
We meet regularly:
Every first Tuesday of the month, 7:00–9:00 p.m., for the general meeting of the FAU Hamburg (including the sections Lüneburg & Lübeck)
Every third Sunday of the month, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. for the FAU-Hamburg plenary meeting, and from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. for the thematic plenary meeting.
Where? At the libertarian centre ‘Schwarze Katze’, Fettstraße 23, 20357 Hamburg
It’s pretty clear what we, as a union, think of the proposed sick leave rules. This is the government giving the middle finger to all wage earners!
But many others are also affected by this.Any employer who wanted to could already require a doctor’s note starting on the first day under the previous rules. All business owners who have preferred to operate on a basis of trust up until now are now being forced by the government to mistrust the workers in “their” company and deal with more bureaucracy.
Disclaimer: This is not a statement on the Middle East conflict. It concerns the interpretation of local events, as well as how we interact with comrades and the manner in which criticism of other positions is expressed.
For several years now, the Rote Flora has repeatedly been the target of hostility and attacks. These attacks do not come from right-wing groups, but from groups identifying as left-wing within the anti-imperialist spectrum. The reason for this is that, in the aftermath of October 7, the Flora stood in solidarity with Jewish people. Thus, the banner “Killing Jews is not fighting for freedom” became the starting point for, among other things, attacks (some of which were specifically directed at individual activists), defamation on “social” media, a short-term occupation, and accusations of racism.
Comrades who gave presentations at Flora were also subjected to online hate speech and incitement.
Even when there are conflicting viewpoints in a conflict, the very least one can do is maintain a basic level of respect for the other side. Since October 7, 2023, this has not been the case for some groups toward Flora.
The FAU Hamburg stands in solidarity with the Rote Flora and condemns the authoritarian attacks on the center.
Today, May 1, the FAU Hamburg took to the streets alongside nearly 10,000 people in beautiful weather.
At the “Those who have, give” demonstration and the Black-Red May Day demonstration, ideas of redistribution and an end to capitalism were communicated and loudly demanded.
We have explicitly heeded the call from GlobalMayDay and shown our solidarity with the newly founded Tea Workers Trade Union Center (TWTUC) in Bangladesh. You can find out more about their demands here: https://globalmayday.net/2026/04/26/tea-workers-gmd26/
We were also there with a flag representing Dago Elos, the squatted Indonesian neighborhood supported by anarchists. You can find out what’s happening there on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dagomelawan
Last but not least, we were of course there to promote our own cause and managed to hand out many of our freshly printed flyers.
Thanks to everyone who participated or helped out behind the scenes!
Together with the Post-Soviet Left, we have planned a robust program: two days filled with meetings, presentations, workshops, and collaborative work.
The PSL will present an engaging overview of the history of the post-Soviet space: the development of the extra-parliamentary opposition, how the political landscape has changed since 2022, and what the left is focusing on today—both domestically and in exile.
In addition, as FAU, we will present our work as a grassroots, militant union and explain why real life only begins with collective action and union membership.
With this event, we aim to identify areas for collaboration and launch joint initiatives. This is precisely the focus of the joint closing workshop included in the program.
When? Very soon—next weekend, in fact!
Saturday, April 25, 2026 — Starts at 3:00 PM
Sunday, April 26, 2026 — Starts at 10:30 AM
10:30 AM – 2:00 PM is the Russian-language session The German-language session begins at 2:00 PM
Where?
At the trade union building of the FAU.: Fettstraße 23, 20357 Hamburg
Come on over, celebrate with us, and get to know us—with good food, conversation, and a look at how we can organize ourselves. Whether you're already involved or just want to check it out, we look forward to seeing you. The Schwarze Katze (23 Fettstraße) is open all day starting at 11:00 a.m.
Program: 11:00 AM – Group brunch 6:00 PM – Warm dinner 7:00 PM – Presentation: Introducing FAU 7:30 PM – Live music, a quote quiz, games, and more
Together for solidarity, self-determination, and a good life for everyone!
FAU Hamburg is part of the Hamburg Alliance Against Employment Bans. This was established because the Hamburg coalition agreement stipulated that, prior to hiring for public service—including before the start of any training program—all applicants must undergo a security screening by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. The rationale is to ensure the state’s resilience against “extremists” and, explicitly, against alleged enemies of the constitution.
Implementation is scheduled to begin in April 2026, subject to final approval by the Hamburg Parliament. We refuse to accept this and, in light of the imminent implementation, are calling on everyone to take to the streets together on March 21 at 12 pm. We call on the Hamburg City Parliament to withdraw the planned reintroduction of routine inquiries by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution!
Protecting democracy cannot be ensured simply by submitting a request for information to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. At a time when resilience and the promotion of democracy are needed more than ever, this law cannot be the solution. That is why we urge you to join us in speaking out and let us make it clear just how important civic engagement is!
We would like to share a press release1 from the FAU’s branch section, the Initiative Grüne Werke (IGG). The IGG advocates for the improvement of working and living conditions in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, landscaping, forestry, and environmental professions. In these sectors, they fight for occupational safety and health, aim to stand up for one another, and work together to address the concerns, demands, and struggles of every individual.
Am 26. Dezember veröffentlichten wir hier einen Text in Solidarität mit den Bildungsstreiks gegen die Wehrpflicht. Es folgt nun ein weiterer Text zum Thema Wehrpflicht und bewaffnete Verteidigung. Die Meinungen zu diesem komplexen Thema gehen in unserem Syndikat auseinander. Wir möchten diesen Text aber trotzdem veröffentlichen, da wir denken, dass wir als libertäre Bewegung auch Meinungsverschiedenenheiten aushalten sollten und Diskurse mithilfe von solidarischer Kritik führen können. Der Beitrag spiegelt dabei die Meinung eines Teils des Syndikats wieder.
If you follow the headlines in Germany, it seems that the world is becoming more dangerous by the day. And for many people in Germany and the so-called “West,” that is probably the case. Because it is not only the climate catastrophe, the erosion of hard-won labor and civil rights, and the increasingly authoritarian behavior of elected governments, including open attacks on representative democracy, that threaten people here. The possibility of open warfare and the hybrid war that is already taking place are also giving rise to discussions that many had hoped they would never have to have again.[1] This also applies to the discussion about the reintroduction of compulsory military service in Germany.
