Warm Greetings from the FTUB,
Since the FTUB was born, we are restoring democracy, human rights, social justice and trade-unionism for Burma and the people of Burma.
The FTUB is implementing as two dynamic aspects as internal and international.
Internal:
- Building trade unions capacity and empowerment
- Combating Forced Labour, Child labour abuses
- Collect and report Freedom Of Association (FOA) abuses
- Educates an extensive training and development programmes for unions
- Research labour market and economy
International:
- Lobbies governments to implement policies that will benefit people at work
- Campaigns on economic and social issues
- Represents working people on in international bodies, in the ICTFU, ETU and at the UN employment body - the International Labour Organisation(ILO)
- Builds links with other trade union bodies worldwide
Finally, while implementing unionization and trade unionism in Burma, we, FTUB are re-establishing genuine democratic political system. I strongly believe that you would enjoy our website and information.
Warm welcome your comments, advice and suggestion.
Maung Maung
General Secretary
Federation of Trade Unions-Burma
Federation of Trade Unions-Burma was formed in 1988 with together of the All Burma Labour Union (ABLU) at the "Htan-Ta-Bin High School, Heldan Township, and Rangoon in September, 1988.
The Trade Unionists and leaders stood up demonstration and stopped work in accordance with the call of the student union in 1988 and have abolished the Burma Socialist Program Party of Gen. Ne Win.
Reformed in 1991, the Federation of Trade Unions-Burma (FTUB) by exiled democratic workers, students and activists who had participated in the popular so-called 8888 uprising and mainstream Burmese democratic political movement.
Since rebirth in 1991, the FTUB has (8) affiliated unions and reestablished the unionization, promoting freedom, democracy, trade union rights as well as human rights in domestically. In the international arena, FTUB is marching together with global and international labour movement towards social-justice, free and fair globalization. Names of affiliated unions are:
(1) Agriculture Workers Union
(2) Food Processing Workers Union
(3) Handloom Workers Union-Burma
(4) Health, Education and Social Workers Unions- HESU
(5) Mine Workers Union
(6) Rubber Plantation Workers Union
(7) Seafarers' Union of Burma
(8) Transport Workers Union (TWU)
(9) Trawler Fisherman Union
In addiction, As Burma has ethnic diversity; the FTUB has distributed the Trade Unionism among our nationalities and the migrant sector. Trade unions and unionization development among our brotherhood and nationalities:
(1) FTU-K
The Federation of Trade Unions- Kawthoolei (FTUK) was born in October 1998. The Karen Education Workers Union, the Karen Health Workers Union and the Karen Agriculture Unions are the affiliates of the FTUK.
(2) Karenni Unions
The Karenni Teachers Union and the Karenni Farmers Union are working to support services for the local members and at the same time increase the basic trade union rights, workers rights as well as human rights.
(3) Migrant Karen Labour Union
History of Trade Union in Burma
Pre- Second World War
On 31 Jan 1940 All Burma Trade Union Congress (ABTUC) was founded by Thakhin Lay Maung and Thakhin Ba Tin.
In March, 1941 All Burma Trade Union Congress (ABTUC) was re-founded again by Thakhin Ba Hein and Thakhin Ba Tin.
During Second War (1941-1945)
1941 to 1945, Burma was occupied by the fascist Japan; as a result, Unionization and development of trade union in Burma was so weak and banned by Japanese fascist.
After Second World War
24 May 1945
ABTUC was reformed by Thakhin Kyaw Sein and Thakhin Hla Kywe.
4 Jan 1948
Burma gained indepedence from Great Briton after hundrea years of colonialism.
1949
The Trade Unions Congress of Burma (TUCB) was initially formed with assistance of the Anti-Fascist Peoples’ Freedom League (AFPFL) and led by U Ba Swe and U Than Tun.
1950
The Burma Trade Union Congress (BTUC) was formed by Thakhin Hla Kywe and Thakhin Thwin.
1958
The Union of Labor Organization (ULO) was formed by U Thwin and U Raschid.
1958-60
Caretaker government, led by army Chief of Staff General Ne Win, formed following a split in the ruling AFPFL party.
1962-1988
Since 1962 March, 2 , a day of military coup, led by General Ne Win, all civil society organizations, including student unions, workers unions and independent journalist were abolished. Unionization and Trade Unionism was weak during the Gen. Ne Win' Burmese Socialist Program Party (BSPP), a totalitarian regime of Burma.
1988
Student initiated people power erupted, civil society was reactive. Knowing that the students were saying what their parents were suffering under Gen. Ne Win' mismanagement, the workers came out in their support. During the 1988 people power uprising, the trade unions were formed in all the economic sectors, including the military and the police.
The All Burma Labour Union (ABLU) was formed at the Htan Ta Bin High School, Heldan Township, and Rangoon in September, 1988. The Trade Unions took up demonstration and stopped work in accordance with the call of the student union.
18 Sep 1988
Military junta coup again and led by Gen. Saw Maung et all. All unions were banned and the leaders forced to either resign or be arrested.
1991 - Present Day
The Federation of Trade Unions-Burma (FTUB) was formed in 1991, by exiled workers and students who had participated in the 8 August 1988 people’s uprising.
The FTUB is a trade union organization with the President an elected people’s representative of the 1990 general election in Burma. The FTUB has international offices supported by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). |
