The FAU is a small federation of grassroots unions. We are working people just like you, and we want to defend and expand our common rights. Our groups (syndicates) exist in many cities in Germany. We are organized on a grassroots democratic basis, independent of the state and political parties, which means we cannot be bought or bribed. We volunteer our time for the union during our free time. Our membership fees are affordable, so that everyone can afford them, and initial consultations are always free.
What sets the FAU apart from other unions, besides its voluntary nature and grassroots democratic structures, is our ambition to think beyond capitalism. In capitalism, the rate of profit decides what is produced under what conditions. The preservation of the planet is just as secondary as the well-being of workers and consumers. The real-existing socialism, which was essentially just a terrible, state version of capitalism, has discouraged many from thinking about alternatives. But we need alternatives because capitalism is destroying our livelihoods. In the FAU, we come together as employees from all sectors of the economy. We discuss how we can create an economy and society where the needs of people and nature come first. Since such changes can only be thought of globally, we organize ourselves in the International Confederation of Labor (ICL) with other workers.