Call: March 8th – Feminist strike talks

And yet another year with a frantic beginning. In the streets, there are mass protests happening and many workers are on strike. The reasons are many: Capitalism’s conveyer belts produce wars and crises one after another and who pays are, as always, those who have been given the worst cards on their hands, anyway. The poor, the voiceless, those deprived of the right to move freely, women and queers, who are spat on, who are harassed, who are paid badly or not at all. What a bullshit situation. Continue reading “Call: March 8th – Feminist strike talks”

Support the Third Workers’ Aid Convoy to Ukraine!

Currently, the third Workers’ Aid Convoy to Ukraine is taking place, organized among others by our sister union Inicjatywa Pracownicza (OZZ IP) from Poland. We support the convoy and call on you donate and talk about it with your friends and colleagues.

The war in Ukraine is far from over and it is essential to build reliable and long term connections to people on the ground. To support now and to fight together now but also after the war.

In the following, we share the call of the organizing International Network of Labor and Solidarity (ILNSS). The convoy has already arrived in Kryvyi Rih, but it will certainly not be the last.

Support the Third Workers’ Aid Convoy to Ukraine!

In 2022, independent trade unions from Brazil, France, Spain, Italy, UK, Lithuania, and Poland co-organized two Workers’ Aid Convoys to Ukraine.

May 29, 2023

In the second half of June 2023, The International Labour Network for Solidarity and Struggles (ILNSS) is organizing the 3rd Workers’ Aid Convoy to Ukraine.

During the convoy, needed goods will be delivered to different unions and different social and professional groups: the students in Lviv, the teachers in Kropyvnytskyi, the miners and metalworkers in Kryvyi Rih, and the railroad workers in Kyiv.

More about the Workers’ Aid Convoy

In 2022, independent trade unions from Brazil, France, Spain, Italy, UK, Lithuania, and Poland co-organized two Workers’ Aid Convoys to Ukraine. The convoys provided technical and medical supplies requested by the members of the labor resistance in Kryvyi Rih: power generators, walkie-talkies, first aid kits, sleeping bags, thermal clothing, tools, flashlights, bandages, and food. Each convoy was accompanied by international delegations and served as an opportunity to meet our Ukrainian comrades in person, get to know the situation on the spot and strengthen our cooperation.

Krivyi Rih is a center of iron-ore mining and steel processing of global importance. It is also a stronghold of the working class militancy. Throughout history, regardless of the political systems (Tsarist Russia, Soviet Union and independent Ukraine), the workers of Krivyi Rih participated in revolutionary and social struggles. Since the 1990s the city has regularly faced strikes and protests – the last one took place in 2021. June 2023 also marks the 60th anniversary of the 1963 popular uprising when people clashed with police and the army, occupied public buildings and attempted to create grassroots committees. The uprising was repressed by the Soviet authorities and as such appears as an important and untold part of local history.

For the last 15 months, the Kremlin has been waging a full-scale war against Ukraine. Russian missiles and artillery shells bring death and destruction. In response, the Ukrainian working class is fighting back with guns in their hands. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian authorities are taking advantage of the war and martial law to implement more and more anti-worker and anti-social reforms. ​​Ukrainian authorities encourage international companies to invest in Ukraine by promising them significant profits. These are the policies that turn the Ukrainian people into cheap labour, Ukrainian land into a commodity and Ukrainian infrastructure into one big special economic zone.

At the same time, thousands of workers, including trade unionists, are fighting on the front lines. It is primarily the working class that is fighting against the invaders. This sheds new light on the role unions are playing in the war and will play in post-war reconstruction. This could have major implications for the working class throughout Europe and beyond. It is in the interest of the workers world-wide that their Ukrainian brothers and sisters defeat the invading army, survive the war and continue their struggle for social justice.

Over the last months, there have been several student-led protests regarding social issues in Ukraine. A large number of students have been forced to flee their homes and universities and relocate to other cities without any resources or shelters. They have suffered losses of loved ones, friends, and colleagues due to bombings, and some of their universities have been destroyed. As a result, they are currently living in a state of constant tension and unpredictability. Due to the budget cuts and various scams, less profitable universities and their dormitories, which often house displaced students, are closed down. The way funding is distributed among universities is unclear, and there are suspicions of corruption within the Ministry of Education – the Minister of Education has recently resigned from his position.

The decision to send the 3rd Workers’ Aid Convoy to Ukraine was made as a result of our cooperation with Ukrainian unionists and activists. It is aimed at strengthening the working class resistance against the Russian imperialist invasion and the Ukrainian government’s anti-union and anti-social reforms during the war. We bring the requested aid directly to those who need them and we plan our actions together.

15 months into war, Ukrainian workers (those in the trenches and those in their hometowns) are still in need of technical equipment (power generators, drones, power supplies, GSM repeaters) and camping gear (sleeping bags, mattress, tents). They also need international solidarity in their struggle against the worsening living conditions.

Workers’ Aid Convoy to Ukraine is not only about providing the necessary goods. It is also about expressing direct solidarity with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters and connecting different struggles on the global level.

Our demands

– Solidarity with Ukraine’s armed and unarmed popular resistance against the Russian imperialist aggression!
– Down with anti-social reforms during and after the war!
– For the cancellation of Ukrainian international debt!
– For a post-war reconstruction to meet the working class needs not private profits!
– Confiscate the Ukrainian assets and property of all capitalist sponsors of Putin’s anti-people regime!

Logistics and how to support

Shopping and shipping are coordinated by Inicjatywa Pracownicza (Workers’ Initiative) union from Poland. Transfers can be made directly to the Union’s bank account:

OZZ Inicjatywa Pracownicza
Volkswagen Bank direct
Rondo ONZ 1 00-124 Warszawa, woj. Mazowieckie,Polska
Code BIC/SWIFT: INGBPLPW
IBAN: PL88 2130 0004 2001 0577 6570 0001
TITLE: Donation to the Workers Aid Convoy

The amounts received will be reported, as well as all the work that the 3rd Workers’ Aid Convoy carries out.

Continue reading “Support the Third Workers’ Aid Convoy to Ukraine!”

FLINK – 11 minutes and you are out?

FLINK does not change its business practices, but fortunately experiences resistance more and more often. On April 19th 2023 we accompanied S., a FLINK worker, in solidarity at his conciliation hearing at the labor court in Dresden. Because no one has to be alone when everyone stands together. We got to know S. in our union counseling where we talked about his termination without notice by FLINK. Once again, FLINK terminated a contract without notice and without giving any reasons. The reasons only became known at the court hearing and are, to say the least, outrageous.

Continue reading “FLINK – 11 minutes and you are out?”

Connecting Feminist Strikes

FAU picket from 11:30 am, König*innenufer (Filmnächte)

call of the FAU Dresden

The F*Strike Network Dresden invites on March 8 under the motto “International and in solidarity against patriarchy” to a rally (13-16 clock) and subsequent demonstration (beginning 16 clock) on the König*innenufer. Ver.di also calls for warning strikes in the context of collective bargaining in the civil service and organizes a “Women’s Day Demonstration”, which will hold an intermediate rally at König*innenufer around 12 pm.

We as FAU Dresden will join the different strikes and welcome the Women’s Day and warning strike demonstration on the banks of the Elbe – because: as union members and feminists they affect us! We show our solidarity with the demands of the collective bargaining process, which go beyond the collective bargaining agreement and thus tie in with feminist strike movements, such as the revaluation of work with a female connotation.

Moreover, we want everything to be completely different! Our wishes go far beyond these demands and are oriented towards the feminist utopia of a society free of domination. We think: a good way to get there are feminist strike movements, which have been growing internationally and getting louder for several years. We are working to become politically capable of striking as well, by linking the different strikes together. If we are many, we make it possible not only to defend the existing right to strike, but even to expand it. When we refuse our work (wage work, unpaid care work, domestic work, …), we have the power to make a difference. Why are you striking on March 8? What would you like to change? See you on 8M, we look forward to nice FLINTA* strike talks with you!

11:30 am at the König*innenufer (Filmnächte)

    • FAU picket (all sectors, unemployed, pupils, trainees, students, pensioners, …, all gender) and brunch
    • Welcome of the strikers in the public service, who come with the ver.di demo

from 13 o’clock rally “International and in solidarity against patriarchy” of F*Streik-Network Dresden
from 16 o’clock demo of F*Streik-Network

Short news: Dismissed trade unionist wins against Flink!

In the case trial against Flink, a dismissed trade unionist was able to assert claims and severance pay worth over 5000€ with the help of FAU. Already last year we had won a lawsuit against the delivery service and also now we suspect that we have not seen each other for the last time in court.

Of course, we prefer the offensive work in the company much more than such lawsuits. Therefore, workers in the delivery service industry, unite, form workers’ groups, organize union protection, educate yourselves, fight and win! Such processes but also organizing cost power and money: If you want to support us, yourself and your colleagues, become a member!

Quick overview: collective wage agreement rounds, climate strike, fem*strike, reduction of working hours

There is quite a lot going on on the streets in the next few days! To keep the overview here again briefly the meeting points:

  • 3.3. climate strike demo at 1:30 pm at Neumarkt Dresden, meeting FAU members at the south end (near small Kirchgasse). Demo will again end on site.
  • 4.3. feminist demo to JVA-Chemnitz, departure bus/train Dresden Hbf, bus stop Strehlener Straße: 1:36 pm
  • 7.3. discussion about reduction of working hours to 4h, 7pm at Kaffee Konkurs
  • 8.3. ver.di demo: 11am at Postplatz, 11:30am König:innenufer FAU info stand, 4pm radical demo at the same place

On the current collective wage rounds: If a union in your company calls a strike and you are not assigned to emergency service, you are also allowed to strike, even if you do not belong to a union or belong to another union. As a general rule, FAU members receive strike pay in the current collective bargaining rounds; contact AG BeKo.

March 4, 2023: Anarchist Feminist Anti-prison Rally

Also this year we invite you to come with us to Chemnitz and show your solidarity to the prisoners in the Chemnitz Women’s Prison. The rally will start on March 4, 2023 at 4 p.m. at Thalheimer Straße 29, directly in front of the prison.

A few days later, on March 8, the feminist day of struggle, it will not remain quiet in Dresden. We will keep you up to date!

Hard Facts:

What: Anarchist Feminist Anti-prison Rally.
When: 04.03.2023, 16:00 – 18:00
Where: JVA Chemnitz, Thalheimer Straße 29, 09125 Chemnitz

There will be a collective train travel from Dresden and Leipzig to Chemnitz. More information will follow later. Bring your friends and flags and banners to the rally!

Call for rally in front of Chemnitz Women’s Prison by the anarchist feminist anti-prison alliance – March 4, 2023, 4:00 p.m.

Like quitting, only shittier. FLINK strikes again

It was foreseeable that the termination in which we supported our member Prince in November 2022 would not be the last. Once again, a FAU member is taking FLINK to court.

On Tuesday, February 28th, 2023 at 1 p.m. we will meet at the labor court in Dresden (Hans-Oster-Straße 4) to support our member Agya and we kindly invite you to join us.

Agya started as a rider at FLINK in 2021. He also knows about the grievances that we already wrote about. You can find his statement here.

After his vacation, Agya came to the union counseling with a letter which at first looked like an excerpt of the terms and conditions or a contract amendment.

Continue reading “Like quitting, only shittier. FLINK strikes again”

The Tears of an Employee Imprisoned by the Fear of an Employer

Bob Nelson once said, “Employee’s motivation is a direct result of the sum of interactions with his/her manager (employer)”.

An employee always goes through emotional traumas at a workplace where management only places organizational emphasis on making profit at the expense of their employee’s wellbeing – safety, happiness, etc.

I can say without the fear of contradictions that the aforementioned picture is vividly painted on the walls of the Flink Expansion 31 GmbH, Germany. As a rider for Flink for over one and a half years on a part time contract as a student, my safety was nearly overlooked always by management. From poor working gears (especially during the extreme weather conditions such as the snowy winter seasons) through poor communication feedbacks from management when employee sort for clarification/work assistance.

Continue reading “The Tears of an Employee Imprisoned by the Fear of an Employer”