Federation of Trade Unions of Burma

The Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB) is an underground trade union in Burma. It was formed in 1991 and includes workers and students who were involved in the general strike of August and September, 1988. Activities of the union are primarily restricted to information gathering and advocacy.

In 1998 Myo Aung Thant, an FTUB executive committee member, was sentenced to life imprisonment for labour organization activities inside Burma. In 2003 Nai Min Kyi, Yae Myint, and Naing Yatha, members of FTUB, were sentenced to death for high treason. ICTUR reports that: "The ostensible reasons for their sentences were that they had attended FTUB training on the Thai-Burma border, were relaying information on forced labour to the International Labour Organization, and had published an article in a Burmese magazine which uncovered corruption in the national football league."

FTUB is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation and has offices in Thailand, the United States, Japan, and Australia.

Famous quotes containing the words federation of, federation, trade, unions and/or burma:

    Women realize that we are living in an ungoverned world. At heart we are all pacifists. We should love to talk it over with the war-makers, but they would not understand. Words are so inadequate, and we realize that the hatred must kill itself; so we give our men gladly, unselfishly, proudly, patriotically, since the world chooses to settle its disputes in the old barbarous way.
    —General Federation Of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)

    Women realize that we are living in an ungoverned world. At heart we are all pacifists. We should love to talk it over with the war-makers, but they would not understand. Words are so inadequate, and we realize that the hatred must kill itself; so we give our men gladly, unselfishly, proudly, patriotically, since the world chooses to settle its disputes in the old barbarous way.
    —General Federation Of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)

    Every trade has its master.
    Chinese proverb.

    When Hitler attacked the Jews ... I was not a Jew, therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists, I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned. Then, Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church—and there was nobody left to be concerned.
    Martin Niemller (1892–1984)

    If the Third World War is fought with nuclear weapons, the fourth will be fought with bows and arrows.
    Louis, 1st Earl Mountbatten Of Burma Mountbatten (1900–1979)