FAU donates to the Zapatistas in Mexico

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FAU donates to the Zapatistas in Mexico

The FAU decided at its federal congress in May 2026 to support the Zapatista movement with 10,000€ from its membership dues to help establish a hospital. The region has very poor healthcare infrastructure, which is why the Zapatistas, together with many others, are building a self-organized hospital for everyone. Since 1994, the Zapatistas in Chiapas, Mexico, have been organizing an autonomous way of life based on anti-capitalist, humanistic values, serving as a model for movements around the world. We feel closely connected to the Zapatista movement in its struggle and its ideals. Together, we fight for the livelihood of humanity and for just societies.

We are documenting our letter to the Zapatistas here:

Greetings from the FAU in Germany

Dear Zapatista siblings,

this is the anarcho-syndicalist trade union federation FAU from Germany. We don’t know if you still remember us, among your many contacts. Last year, we had the privilege of being your guests at the Encuentro “Algunas Partes del Todo”, and our paths have crossed a few other times as well.

At our annual convention, we decided to contribute 10,000€ to your hospital, and we hope this will make your daily lives a little easier. This money does not come from the government, nor did we win it in the lottery, it comes from our membership dues, which all workers set aside from their wages every month to advance the struggle for a more just world.

But this money is only a reflection of something deeper: We see your movement, we have seen it for many years. It inspires us in our own movement. It inspires us to unlearn the things we were taught here - in the belly of the beast. And it inspires us - in a country not exactly known for its sense of humor - to laugh more as we go about serious daily tasks, take joy in the laughter of children, or to send a smile after a butterfly. Thank you for this gift, which keeps many of us going at least as well as your delicious coffee!

We know you always have more than enough to do back home, so we don’t want to take up more of your time with this letter. We just want to remind you once again that we’re organized internationally with similar organizations in the International Confederation of Labor (ICL), whose members mostly share similarly warm feelings toward you.

We are organized through the ICL in the following countries: the United Kingdom (IWW), France (CNT), Germany (FAU), Poland (OZZ IP), Greece (ESE), Italy (USI), Spain (CNT), Canada and the U.S. (IWW), Argentina (FORA), Brazil (FOB), Myanmar (FGWM), and Australia (IWW). We also have good friends in several other countries.

We share your concern for the future; we, too, see a great storm brewing, perhaps humanity’s greatest challenge. Until now, we have primarily organized with other unions, but many of us believe we need to broaden our perspective and reach out to others. We’re paying more attention to indigenous movements and to alliances like the Nyéléni Forum. But it is as you say: The main work is always right on our doorstep.

If you have any questions for us, or if our international contacts might be of some use to you, please feel free to reach out anytime. If you’d like to share your international contacts with us, we’d be happy to hear from you as well. As the ICL, we meet online every month to exchange ideas, in English or Spanish. If you’d ever like to join us as a guest to share information, ask questions, or exchange ideas — please let us know.

Stay cheerful, stay brave, stay healthy,
Your comrades at the FAU