We support the strikers in Myanmar who are standing up against the coup and for democracy. From the mostly-women factory and garment workers to the hospital, education, transport and civil service workers, we believe that it is the general strike that can stave off authoritarianism.

Despite the government responding with bullets, the Civil Disobedience Movement’s (CDM) general strike is succeeding; foreign trade has largely collapsed. We look to the trade union movement of Myanmar as a force to create genuine democracy and end the persecution of minorities like the Rohingya. We urge all democrats and the whole labour movement to organise to send funds to these strikers and raise awareness of their action.

We draw the movement’s attention to the Civil Disobedience Movement strike fund, organised by the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), part of the AFL-CIO. Strikers need money to continue to hold out against the military coup: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-myanmar-workers-under-attack 

Signatories all in a personal capacity
John McDonnell MP
Apsana Begum MP
Manuel Cortes, General Secretary, TSSA
Ian Hodson, National President, BFAWU
Yaseen Aslam, President, ADCU
Alex Marshall, National President, IWGB


In addition to signing the statement above please put the following motion to your Labour Party or Trade Union branch or Students' Union:

This branch notes:

• the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, in which the military seized power having refused to accept the results of the November 2020 election.

• That the general strike by the Civil Disobedience Movement is succeeding in grinding economic activity to a minimum, despite the army responding by murdering strikers.

This branch believes:

• It is the general strike that can stave off authoritarianism, create genuine democracy and end the persecution of minorities and the Rohingya.

• Strikers need money to maintain their actions, potential for a significant period of time.

This branch resolves:

• to raise awareness of the general strike through traditional and social media channels

• to draw members’ attention to the Civil Disobedience Movement’s strike fund, organised by the All Burma Federation of Trade Unions (ABFTU)

• to donate XXX to the fund:

If you ask to be kept informed of either Myanmar strike solidarity activity or put on the Momentum Internationalists mailing list, your data will be used for this purpose only and not passed on to anyone else without your agreement