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Myanmar military junta: never in fashion
The unions' message is clear: if international clothing manufacturers are serious about human rights and democracy, they must take their factories out now — or risk funding the the dictatorship, writes LAURA WATSON
Anti-coup protesters flash the three-finger sign of defiance during a demonstration in Yangon, Myanmar, April 23 2021
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ON THE first anniversary of the military coup, over 170 organisations from over 20 countries around the world released a joint statement in support of a call by Myanmar unions for international fashion brands to pull out of Myanmar.
Signatories include trade unions from Britain, Europe and the US, among them the TUC and the ITUC, Unite, PCS, CWU, BFAWU, UCU, TSSA, Aslef and the AFL-CIO.
The statement launched a new international solidarity campaign, Myanmar Military: Never in Fashion, set up in response to the All Burma Federation of Trade Unions (ABFTU) and the Federation of General Workers Myanmar (FGWM).
In September 2021, these unions, which are two of the largest in Myanmar and are part of the Myanmar Labour Alliance, accused employers of working with the military to undermine workers rights and hand over protesters to the police. They called on international brands to stop sourcing their products from Myanmar suppliers.
Their call is now supported by a growing number of trade unions and civil society organisations from around the world, including women’s groups and is part of the wider call for comprehensive economic sanctions to help oust the military regime.
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