Political pressure from the US is likely to have been the trigger for GLS Bank and Sparkasse Göttingen closing the accounts of the left-wing solidarity organization Rote Hilfe in mid-December. The background to this is that the US government has classified the group, also referred to in the media as “Antifa Ost,” as a terrorist organization and placed it on a sanctions list. Rote Hilfe shows solidarity with anti-fascists who are being persecuted and imprisoned in connection with the so-called “Antifa Ost.” Apparently, the banks saw this as a risk and therefore decided to terminate their business relationships in order to avoid possible sanctions from the US against themselves.
We are currently witnessing a shift to the right in many areas of social life and, with it, a step backwards to the supposed “good old days.” This begins with migration and asylum policy, right-wing debates about “cityscapes” and belonging, gender issues, the debate about abortion, and the question of what a family should look like, and is now reaching its preliminary climax in the new debate about compulsory military service.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Currently, the government is “only” talking about compulsory military service in the event that not enough soldiers (especially male soldiers) volunteer, but even this has a number of consequences.
At a time when cohesion and solidarity are more important than ever, we want to fortify ourselves with hot drinks, cocoa, cookies, and vegan waffles and support each other. There are no profit motives here, just space for joint action and thinking.
Drop by whenever you like and let's overcome winter and social coldness together. Everything is donation-based.
We are stronger together – we are looking forward to seeing you!
Over the past few months, we have raised €20,000, with a large portion of this sum being covered by the International Confederation of Labor (ICL-CIT).
This action is part of a broader campaign for better sanitary facilities, free menstrual products in factories, and the right to take paid sick leave during menstruation. Factory owners and clothing brands are being specifically confronted, and we have already achieved initial successes.
Together with FGWM, we were able to put enough pressure on the factory management and Hunkemöller at the Hang Kei factory to provide the workers with free menstrual products.
"Fabiu is a sturdy guy with a raspy voice and a challenging look. He works as a mason and has been living in Germany for almost ten years. 'Slavery' is the first word that comes to mind when he’s asked about his work here. 'Shit' is the second.", (1, Paragraph 5)
"I have a question: Isn’t the course of these things being left unchecked because Germany needs workers who are paid little or not at all? And then I wonder if this isn’t a disguised and controlled form of slavery." Elvis Iancu, April 2015, Mall of Shame (2, p. 27)
Introduction
The proportion of helpers on construction sites has risen sharply in recent years. This is not happening because the work on construction sites has become much easier or more automated, and largely consists of helper tasks (3).1No, skilled workers are classified as helpers in order to reduce their wages. This practice is primarily used by subcontractors for migrant workers, who often have less knowledge of the German legal system and sometimes lack secure residency status. As a result, they are even more vulnerable to exploitation2 .
We are sharing here a post from the Asia Working Group of the ICL. The ICL is an international trade union federation in which the FAU is organized. The following content was also published in several languages on globalmayday.net In response to the recent wave of militant protests across Indonesia, the anarchist organization Perhimpunan Merdeka (in English: Freedom Association) published the following statement.
Anyone who wants to learn more about the current political developments in Indonesia can check out this well-made introduction to the topic by Warfronts. diese gut gemachte Einführung zu dem Thema von Warfronts ansehen.
For the past few months we managed to raise 20 000 Euros, a big share of this sum was covered by the International Confederation of Labour (ICL-CIT). For 10 000 Euros, the FGWM already ordered pads and started distributing inside factories them: 5 packages each to 5 000 workers in total. It was the FGWM who approached us with this idea in the first place and asked the FAU/ICL to support their actions.
FAU Bremen has been active since July 12, 2025, as a local section of FAU Hannover, advocating for the rights of workers in Bremen and the surrounding areas. As an independent grassroots union, they pursue a solidarity-based and direct approach to labor rights. They are part of the nationwide union federation FAU, fighting for better working conditions, more participation, and against exploitation.
If you’re interested in organizing and getting active, feel free to contact them at fauhb-kontakt@fau.org. Join, get involved, and help shape the change!
In Panama streiken seit über zwei Monaten verschiedene Gewerkschaften und Arbeiter*innen von Chiquita gegen eine geplante Rentenreform. Tausende Mitarbeiter*innen wurden daraufhin vom Konzern entlassen.
Die Regierung Panamas hat in der betroffenen Provinz Bocas del Toro wegen der anhaltenden Proteste der Arbeiter*innen den Ausnahmezustand verhängt, was empfindliche Einschränkungen der Versammlungs- und Bewegungsfreiheit zur Folge hat.
Hinrich Schultze wird das Land vorstellen und von den aktuellen Kämpfen am 25.07.25 einen Vortrag in der schwarzen Katze berichten.
Der Vortrag beginnt um 20:00 Uhr
Einlass ist ab 19:00 Uhr, es wird eine Küfa geben.
Die FAU Hamburg und die FAU Lübeck sind solidarisch mit dem Streik der polnischen Kolleg*innen unserer Schwestergewerkschaft Inicjatywa Pracownicza (IP) in der Firma Jeremias in Gniezno! Seit dem 3. Juni streiken 80% der Produktionsarbeiter*innen in dem 300 Beschäftigten zählenden Werk. Sie kämpfen für 180 Euro monatliche Lohnerhöhung, längere bezahlte Pausen und dass die Überstunden nach einem Monat ausbezahlt werden, nicht erst nach einem Jahr.
Wir sehen es als unsere Aufgabe, über den Streik und die schlimmen Arbeitsbedingungen zu informieren und eine Gegenöffentlichket über die deutsche Muttergesellschaft Jeremias Abgastechnik GmbH mit Sitz in Wassertrüdingen, Bayern, zu schaffen. Die Jeremias-Geschäftsführer Stefan Engelhardt, Wolfgang Geiser und Christoph Wißmüller müssen den Forderungen der streikenden Arbeiter*innen in Gniezno umgehend zustimmen, die zwei entlassenen Mitglieder der IP wieder einstellen und die US-Anwaltskanzlei Littler zurückpfeifen.
Wir teilen die Forderungen unserer polnischen Kolleg*innen in Gänze und rufen alle Syndikate und Sektionen der FAU auf, sich anzuschließen.
Als Zeichen unserer Solidarität werden wir 500 Euro in den Streikfonds der Kolleg*innen einzahlen.
Haltet durch, wir stehen solidarisch an Eurer Seite! Solidarność na zawsze!
FAU Hamburg und FAU Lübeck
Solidarity and support for our Polish colleagues and their strike
The FAU Hamburg and the FAU Lübeck are in solidarity with the strike of the Polish colleagues of our sister union Inicjatywa Pracownicza (IP) at the Jeremias company in Gniezno! Since June 3, 80% of the production workers at the plant, which employs 300 people, have been on strike. They are fighting for a 180 euro monthly wage increase, longer paid breaks and for overtime to be paid out after one month, not after one year.
We see it as our task to inform about the strike and the terrible working conditions and to create a counter-publicity about the German parent company Jeremias Abgastechnik GmbH, based in Wassertrüdingen, Bavaria. The Jeremias managing directors Stefan Engelhardt, Wolfgang Geiser and Christoph Wißmüller must immediately agree to the demands of the striking workers in Gniezno, reinstate the two dismissed members of the IP and call off the US law firm Littler.
We fully share the demands of our Polish colleagues and call on all syndicates and sections of the FAU to join in solidarity.
As a sign of our solidarity, we will pay 500 euros into the colleagues‘ strike fund.
Hang in there, we stand by your side in solidarity! Solidarność na zawsze!
FAU Hamburg and FAU Lübeck
Solidaridad y apoyo a nuestros compañeros polacos y a su huelga
¡La FAU de Hamburgo y la FAU de Lübeck se solidarizan con la huelga de los compañeros polacos de nuestro sindicato hermano Inicjatywa Pracownicza (IP) en la empresa Jeremias de Gniezno! Desde el 3 de junio, el 80% de los trabajadores de producción de la planta, que emplea a 300 personas, están en huelga. Luchan por un aumento salarial mensual de 180 euros, pausas pagadas más largas y que las horas extraordinarias se paguen al cabo de un mes, no de un año.
Consideramos que nuestra tarea es informar sobre la huelga y las terribles condiciones de trabajo y crear una contrapublicidad sobre la empresa matriz alemana Jeremias Abgastechnik GmbH, con sede en Wassertrüdingen (Baviera). Los directores generales de Jeremias, Stefan Engelhardt, Wolfgang Geiser y Christoph Wißmüller, deben acceder inmediatamente a las demandas de los trabajadores en huelga de Gniezno, readmitir a los dos miembros despedidos del PI y desistir del bufete de abogados estadounidense Littler.
Compartimos plenamente las reivindicaciones de nuestros compañeros polacos y hacemos un llamamiento a todos los sindicatos y secciones de la FAU para que se unan en solidaridad.
Como muestra de nuestra solidaridad, ingresaremos 500 euros en el fondo de huelga de los compañeros
Aguantad, ¡estamos a vuestro lado en solidaridad! ¡Solidarność na zawsze!
FAU Hamburgo y FAU Lübeck
Solidarność i wsparcie dla naszych polskich kolegów i ich strajku
FAU Hamburg i FAU Lubeka solidaryzują się ze strajkiem polskich kolegów z naszego siostrzanego związku Inicjatywa Pracownicza (IP) w firmie Jeremias w Gnieźnie! Od 3 czerwca strajkuje 80% pracowników produkcyjnych w zakładzie zatrudniającym 300 osób. Walczą oni o podwyżkę wynagrodzeń o 180 euro miesięcznie, dłuższe płatne przerwy oraz o to, by nadgodziny były wypłacane po miesiącu, a nie po roku.
Uważamy, że naszym zadaniem jest informowanie o strajku i strasznych warunkach pracy oraz tworzenie kontrreklamy na temat niemieckiej spółki macierzystej Jeremias Abgastechnik GmbH z siedzibą w Wassertrüdingen w Bawarii. Dyrektorzy zarządzający Jeremias, Stefan Engelhardt, Wolfgang Geiser i Christoph Wißmüller, muszą natychmiast zgodzić się na żądania strajkujących pracowników w Gnieźnie, przywrócić do pracy dwóch zwolnionych członków IP i odwołać amerykańską kancelarię prawną Littler.
W pełni podzielamy żądania naszych polskich kolegów i wzywamy wszystkie syndykaty i sekcje FAU do solidarności.
Na znak naszej solidarności wpłacimy 500 euro na fundusz strajkowy kolegów.
Trzymajcie się, stoimy solidarnie po waszej stronie! Solidarność na zawsze!
FAU Hamburg i FAU Lubeka
Workers Consultation
Are you not getting what you deserve? Are you being treated unfairly at work?
Together, we can change that!
The radical union
The FAU Hamburg is an independent grassroots union. It is nationally organized in the workers union federation of FAU. Join us, get involved, take action!
