Given the imposed confinement, CGT didn’t call for rallies this May Day. Instead a press conference was given to present the campaign for May Day. The campaign included the goal of a Basic Equal Income (RBIs) – Pictures were published using #1MayoRBIsYA.

Furthermore, after a brief statement by the Secretary General, a digital concert was streamed for about an hour:

May 17th: Chat Meeting to discuss what’s next after GMD 2020

Global May Day 2020 is over, with some very interesting reports on the blog. During this chat meeting we want to explore possibilities of common activities in the near future.

Everyone sympathizing with the Global May Day self-conception is welcome to join the meeting!

Continue reading →

Considering the difficult circumstances caused by the CoViD-19 pandemic, we have a great compilation of reports:

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For the past few weeks some anarchist students and workers in Kolkata got organized in a collective looking to build and promote worker solidarity, antifascism and autonomy within all communities. At first they did so as IWW Kolkata. Later they decided to change their name to Gana Samhati Sangha (People’s Solidarity Collective). From the start their focus was on organizing mutual aid in the villages around Kolkata – similar like the comrades of the Dabindu Collective in Katunayake (Sri Lanka) do for garment workers. Among others the Free Workers’ Union (FAU) supports their efforts.

In the Global May Day 2020 the People’s Solidarity Collective saw an opportunity to kick off a new outreaching effort to gather further support for their activities.

As part of these efforts the below video and statement were released:

Last Tuesday we helped the youth of Ghritokham village organise mutual aid in their community for distressed farmers and daily labourers. With the unfaltering support and solidarity of new and old friends, we have now reached out to over 500 families in 6 different villages in the Garh Shalboni region in Jhargram District, West Bengal.
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The Lockdown Crisis in Jhargram Jhargram has remained a green zone so far with only one reported death. However, the lockdown has affected the economies of the villages here immensely. Since the restrictions began, shops and small businesses have suffered huge losses, labourers have had no income, farmers found themselves unable to sell and transport their produce. In response to the looming uncertainty, they scaled down operations, rendering many farm labourers jobless. The relief that is supposed to be distributed through ration shops are often in short supply. At the time of writing this post, there have been no supplies at some of the local ration shops for over two weeks. Even when there are provisions, a pecking order based on local politics and caste is followed for the distribution. This means that the poorest people in Jhargram have no work, no access to aid from the government, and many have already cut down to one meal a day.
The youth of Jhargram have not given up. Each village we go to we find bright young minds taking initiative to take care of their fellow human beings. They understand that the struggle for the future survival of their communities will be a long one. Three weeks back we put out an appeal and solidarity poured in from across the country and the world. With that support we were able to distribute food and provisions to over a 100 families each in the six villages of Koima, Shalboni, Jitushol, Ghritokham, Bagmudi and Painabhanga.
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We have reached out to a 100 families each in six villages so far, yet there are many others that need relief. We can only keep doing the good work as long as you keep supporting us, so consider making a contribution. At a time like this no amount is too little or too much.
Feel free to message anytime for any questions or suggestions you might have.

Send your contributions to:

Gpay: abhijay.gpt@okaxis

You can also transfer the amount to:
Account Name: Abhijay Gupta
Account No.: 20670110065914
Bank & Branch: UCO BANK – JHARGRAM IFSC
Code: UCBA0002067

For international transactions: TransferWise definitely works!

Solidarity, not charity!

#mutualaid #globalmayday2020 #1world1struggle

The grassroot labor union SAC Syndicalisterna released this video message:

And also published pictures taken by members in different cities. Here are some examples:

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Due to the restrictions also in place in Brazil it was difficult for comrades organized with Federação das Organizações sindicalistas revolucionárias do Brasil (FOB) to arrange activities for May Day.

Nonetheless the general autonomous union of Ceará (SIGA-CE) affiliated with FOB did send us some pictures of agitation activities. Their focus is currently on a campaign against president Bolsonaro and for an unconditional basic income (emergency aid) in the context of the pandemic in Brazil.

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Some comrades in the city district Wilhelmsburg prepared this banner:

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The Free Workers’ Union (FAU) Hamburg prepared a solidarity video:

And also dropped a banner at the autonomous center Schwarze Katze (Black Cat):

There was a lot of confusion. Initially some neo-nazi groups announced to rally in Harburg for May Day, which was in the end forbidden by the authorities. Unfortunately so was the planned rally of the local May Day alliance, of which FAU Hamburg is part of.
Nonetheless some comrades took a stroll through the district. Currently a person can be charged almost 180 Euros if on the streets with more than one other person.

Furthermore a broadcast on the Global May Day was aired on the local radio station FSK. It’s mostly in German but also includes messages from the Forum of IT workers (FITE), the Free Workers’ Union (FAU) Marburg-Gießen-Marburg as well as FAU Marburg all in English:

Comrades of the Free Workers’ Union (FAU) Stuttgart displayed the goals expressed in the call for the Global May Day in public and at home:

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As part of the Global May Day the Forum for I.T. Employees (FITE) asked IT workers to submit statements. Here are some examples:

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And M. Sathiesh (General Secretary, FITE) recorded a great message on the importance of May Day directed at workers in the IT/ITeS sector:

Also the following statement was recorded:

Continue reading →

Despite various restrictions the Free Workers’ Union (FAU) Bonn called for a rally in the city center.

To express their support for struggles against exploitation and for emancipation around the world the banner “Solidarity is our weapon. #1world1struggle” was displayed.

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details also published on bonn.fau.org