"Brukman belongs to the workers!" "If you don't like it, tough shit!" "Let's move on, comrades!" "To the unemployed comrades, thanks a lot!" "It's sharing the struggle, understanding unity, employed, unemployed, students and activists this is the struggle for our future!" "Here we are, this is we, the workers from Aanón!" "Brukman belongs to the workers!" "If you don't like it, tough shit!" "This happened in Buenos Aires when the police executed the eviction order from a judge." "The workers from Brukman, a textile factory, had given their ultimatum." "They wanted to recover the factory." "Immediately, the armed forces started attacking with tear gas." "And then advanced on the protesters." "The ceramic factory Aanón was built during the military dictatorship by Luigi Aanón, an Italian entrepreneur who left Padua at age 28 to try his luck in South America." "The day the factory opened, he said the following words." ""We are here today" "This venture is largely due to the security and tranquility granted us by the Armed Forces since they took over power on March 24, 1976." "Our efforts and their help turned the dream we once had into todays reality." "During those bloody years, Argentina began to embrace a new economic plan based on financial capitalism," "later to be called neo-liberalism." "Upon the advent of democracy with Raul Alfonsin, the militaries responsible for the genocide were brought to trial, yet their economic accomplices continued doing business." "With the arrival of Menems govemment the factory quadrupled in size." "Menem, the best student of the International Monetary Fund pardoned the militaries and went on with his economic plan." "He privatized state companies." "He put an end to the social role of the State." "And raised unemployment to unprecedented levels." "In October 2001, in opposition to a massive laid-off, the workers of Aanón took over the factory." "Since then, production has been under workerscontrol." "They all eam the same wages." "This is Luigi Aanón's office." "It's the only place in the entire factory where the workers dont want to step in." "They say it brings very bad memories." "FASINPAT THE BOSSLESS FACTORY" "Neuquén, March 82003." "Neuquén, March 82003." "This take over" "This take over implies an immediate eviction, with the use of public force," "and a violent repression of the workers of Zanón ceramics." "This repression was clearly instructed by the trustees and the judge." "In the eviction order coming from Buenos Aires, the words "use of public force" are repeated four times, and also "if necessary, use repression"." "At the hearing, the trustees announced they want to begin with the inventory and then continue with the eviction." "We've taken a firm decision here." "We'll fight for our jobs," "We've seen how our comrades, the piqueteros and the unemployed," "Instead of blocking roads and risking our lives for 150 pesos, we're going to risk our lives here, in this factory, and we won't change our minds." "We have firmly decided to resist any form of eviction." "March 242003" "Today is a day for reflection and remembering that many of the 30000 disappeared comrades were workers just like us." "How do we feel today, comrades?" "What's going through our minds and bodies?" "It's as if one of you had disappeared" "Why disappeared?" "Because they wanted things to be more equal." "Because they longed for a different country." "They disappeared for thinking differently." "That's why they disappeared." "And though today we can stand up and protest, the first thing we have to do, regardless the threat of eviction, is to protest in conscience." "In memory of those comrades." "Those comrades who paved the way, and did the same thing we are doing today." "And much more." "But they had to pay with their lives, their blood, for thinking differently." "Ooncrete motion, comrades!" "Let's go in total conscience!" "Whoever wants to leave, should leave now." " I'm marching." " Me too." "It's voted on then." "One more thing we need to vote on." "The other day we talked about a trip to Venezuela." "The Mothers of May Square will be going there." "They want some of us to go and talk about our work, and how we managed to get the factory working." "How we organize ourselves and reach out to the community, how we work here." "There's place for one person, so we need to vote on a representative and a substitute capable to fulfill this official role." "They will represent Zanón workers and will explain how we work here." "I propose Quinquiñil Oarlos." "He's worked hard, and really deserves it." "Oarlitos, would you be willing?" "Another proposition?" "The two most voted ones will be representative and substitute." "The two most voted ones will be representative and substitute." "Who are the candidates?" "Who votes for Juan Orellana?" "We can vote for two candidates." "Yes, you can vote for yourself." "That's right, I voted for myself." "34 votes." "For Ohaplin?" "For Oarlitos Quinquiñil?" "For Quico?" "Quinquiñil as representative and Orellana as substitute." "Let's go!" "Zanón belongs to the people." "Support the workers." "Here we are, this is we, the workers from Zanón!" "Oome on, jump!" "Oome on, jump!" "If you don't jump, you're a military dictator!" "Monsignor Melani defends Zanón workers." "Zanón belongs to the workers." "In these 17 months the workers have shown that their enthusiasm, their efforts, and their intelligence got the factory working, and provided decent work for them and their families." "Govemor Sobisch will have to deal with this..." " Sobisch and his friends..." " Sleaze bags!" "How much stock do we have?" "Oooked at once, there's 55,339 meters, in FaSinPat packaging." "Porcellanato 2597 meters, in Zanón packaging." "And 14,002 meters, in FaSinPat packaging." "We must realize we need 25000 pesos per day in orderto go on producing and building up stock." "Otherwise, we won't be able to pay wages, electricity bills..." "How much was the gas bill?" "12000 pesos." "And 20000 for electricity." "And the problem we had the other day with some lines of porcellanato?" " That's fixed." "Remember we said we had to sell sell 80000 meters per month?" "Well, it's not easy at all." "We're slowly getting there but if we can't reach and maintain that goal we can't guarantee production, so we'll have to do what we can." "There's no other way." "Because of our situation, for certain clients, buying from us is a risk." "Like these Ohilean clients, they were very hesitant." "Zanón threatened them." "Finally, they'll buy the merchandise." "But in FaSinPat packaging so we avoid the obstacle of the brand name Zanón." "We have to work on that, we'll see..." "The Zanón workers, men and women of Zanón," "are defending real jobs." "And we stand against the eviction from Zanón." "The commission is made up of different social organizations" "unions and political organizations." " And human rights too, right?" " Yes, that's right." "From Brussels?" "You're in Belgium..." "How is it going?" "Here we are in the struggle waiting to see what these guys will do." "The community is really supporting us." "The universities, and also the high schools." "We organized a huge protest to demand the expropriation and nationalization of the factory." "We thank you for your solidarity." "Two comrades will go to Europe and another two in Latin America." "Enough theories, let's go down to business, right?" "The workers from Zanón." "The commission is made up of different organizations:" "Social and political ones, and also Human Rights organizations." "A meeting will be held in the ATEN head office."" "Bardone was on duty last night." "Is Gabriel here?" "What did we agree on?" "Where am I working?" "At station 10." "It's 16." "Ant, the base is 17,2!" "October 61993." "Ladies and gentlemen, we welcome the president Carlos Saul Menem." "To date, the factory has grown to 120000 meters." "LUIGI ZANON" "LUIGI ZANON With a production of one million meters per month," "With a production of one million meters per month, we reached the level of the leading ceramic factories in the world." "These haven't been easy years." "We fought strongly for our beloved Patagonia and so far away from the trading centers." "We've already given you U$ 500000." "And we'll soon give you U$ 1000000." "JORGE SOBISOH Governor of Neuquén." "JORGE SOBISOH Governor of Neuquén." "And as we promised, we'll continue supporting you" "And as we promised, we'll continue supporting you until we reach the necessary amount:" "U$5000000." "We don't the public opinion to be unaware of it." "This is no secret." "The Government of Neuquén is not hiding anything." "On the contrary," "We have decided to support all projects for creating employment here in Neuquén." "We are here to inaugurate the expansion of this factory with its new installations," "with an investment of almost 20 million pesos or 20 million dollars." "Before, if we talked about dollars we couldn't talk about pesos or Australes." "To talk about Australes, we needed a calculator to know how the Austral was quoting, as it changed from one day to the next." "Today, one dollar is one peso." "Thanks God, ourcurrency is one of the strongest in the world." "It's a nice day to work because it's humid" "Did you see the tests?" "They're coming out uneven." "Check out this test from 1 pm." "There's a smudge here." "It won't come off." "We need to fine tune the press." "Pedro, is the water boiling?" "It's very hot, Pedro." "There are 10 million workers in Argentina." "4 million are unemployed." "Out of those 4 million, only 100 thousand or 150 thousand are organized in diverse groups, which are also divided." "The main problem is having all these divisions." "What's the government's plan?" "150 pesos for the unemployed." "And now they're asking companies to pay another 150 pesos, so thousands of unemployed comrades will work in the factories for $300" "If there isn't a united front, it will be a disaster." "We have to demonstrate that businessmen are profiting from the government, as always." "And demonstrate, as we're doing so now, that companies can hire people without subsidies." "Subsidies are a lie of this political plan." "We need to find a way to tell others about this." "There's no conflict between the employed and the unemployed." "Those who denounce this plans also have to fight for real jobs, and defend their factories." "That's the key to a strategy of unity." "How do we do it?" "We have to tell those who want to split that they need to unite, it's the only way to achieve anything." "We have to keep expanding this factory" "We have to produce and export more, generate more money, not money for us, but to give it back to the State." "No, not the State!" "To the people of this province who don't get any help." "We have to try to null this plan of 150 pesos that's not helping anyone." "The comrades want work and not 150 pesos which are not even enough to pay the bills!" "We can't even pay the gas and electricity bills." "We have to understand that the government's plan isn't a circumstantial strategy but a long term strategy." "This plan aims at maintaining 3 or 4 million of unemployed." "And divide the employed workers into legal workers, unregistered workers, interns, and untaxed work." "In short:" "Junk work." "If their plan succeeds they'll end up dividing the working class." "In a few years, it'll be impossible to win anything, any strike, not just taking control of a factory." "Because they'll sell everything off." "Provincial Legislature." "We come from a meeting with representatives from 30 factories and companies managed solely by their workers." "One of the decisions from the Rosario meeting is to submit a bill to each legislature on the expropriation of companies, which would allow workers to continue with their measures." "We've already submitted this bill." "But right now we need a pronouncement about the non-intervention of public force against workers' management." "There are 300 workers in the factory today, and over 1500 people earn their living doing it without any kind of aid." "It's solely managed by the workers." "We've done lots of work within the community:" "Donations for school canteens, hospitals, etc." "It's giving back to the community what the community gave us." "The support to get us where we are today." "A few words from the legislators." "We believe in a peaceful solution to the conflict." "The Justice system should be consonant with what the Zanón experience represents today in view of a lock-out by their owners." "A firm lock-out." "The Justice system should recognize this situation and listen to the demands presented by the workers." "The factory's production is currently managed and organized by the workers." "This is a valuable experience that must be preserved." "Legislator Oorrea, I'd like to add something to our petition." "Never mind the justice system, which in Neuquén isn't independent, as we saw with Abeleira case." "You should ask the provincial executive and the legislators here to see us immediately." "I'm talking about ministers Brillo and Oomelli." "If we resort to justice, we'll probably be evicted." "Like in '97, repression came first and later on the solution." "We don't want repression and violence, we want a legal and political solution." "Security here..." "Security, post 6, nothing to report." "Electrician Quilabrán!" "High voltage tower, nothing to report." "Our defense against the eviction order is showing the Justice system that no crime was committed by the workers in the factory," "but rather by Zanón, who wanted to close the factory, and put a gun to the workers' heads and said:" ""These are the new conditions"." "The laid-off of over half of the workers." "Wage reductions for the rest." "Worsening of working conditions." "If you don't accept them, I'll close the factory forgood."" "But he wasn't really closing it, he was clearing it out while using blackmail tactics." "We submitted a claim and won in the first instance and at the Supreme Oourt." "The first time in Argentine history that an owner's lock-out is deemed as a crime." "The problem is that Zanón never served the sentence, and no judge would force him to re-open the factory." "That would be going against the capitalist system!" "They managed to get this judge from Buenos Aires." "Instead of getting Zanón to reopen the factory, this judge named some trustees as co-administrators." "The factory would be managed by Zanón alongside the trustees." "The repossession of the factory by the trustees must first guarantee our jobs, otherwise we won't allow it!" "What does this repossession mean?" "The trustees will take over and we'll be out." "They'll take all the decisions and call in their friends." "Accepting it means giving up." "It means leaving the place to stand in line outside." "So far, the trustees have been very tough." "They want it all, and that's out of the question!" "If they want it all, we want it all too." "We'll allow them to take the inventory and no more." "The trustees are Picado, Levy and associates." "They've negotiated with the IMF in the US." "The press published they were in the delegation." "They're no fools, and this isn't a mere audit." "They're big fishes." "They're public officials." "They can't represent private interests." "Exactly." "Our comrade lawyers have filed an appeal objecting the incompatibility between being a public official and a trustee of a private company." "Any questions, comrades?" "One last thing, comrades." "If you have children clothes you could spare, bring them to the factory." "Or milk or sugar for a canteen feeding 120 kids." "It's called "Growing up Strong and Healthy"" "and the factory wants to help them." "We know there are people here who work and people who don't." "So we have to take stronger measures." "Those people who do nothing tire out the ones who work." "If you have a problem with those who don't work, then you have two problems." "First:" "The people who don't work." "And second:" "The people who work are tired out." "We said we needed a firm hand, we said we should do this or that..." "But we never do it." "Because we're always aiming at preserving our unity." "And it's true, unity is fundamental, comrades." "Yet, not punishing the lazy ones is really annoying, right?" "But isn't it better to concentrate on the current conflict?" "The conditions now are favorable." "We never before had such strong support." "If a comrade isn't working, then we'll talk to him." "And he'll have to understand!" "He'll have to realize that this the time." "We have to move ahead." "Right now." "Every day counts." "Radio Universitaire OALF" "The Zanón experience couldn't have been possible if we hadn't recovered our union from the hands of bureaucracy." "Our enemies are well identified:" "The govemment and the bosses." "But there's another enemy, the closest to us, a heavy weight enemy:" "The union's bureaucracy." "Our comrades of ATEN" "They're being downright restricted." "The number of hours they had for union activities was reduced to a minimum." "This is like the situation of the oil workers." "They can't even raise their heads and protest." "They're dying on the job, dying in explosions." "Where is the union?" "The union is thinking of how to get more money out of companies." "And comrades are dying on us." "This has to be condemned." "One thing is to fight for a decent job, but losing your life because there are no security conditions, that's dreadful." "And there are people responsible, and they have to be denounced." "The microphone is open to the union of nurses (ATEN)" "Thank you for this air time." "The authorities must realize something:" "Zanón will not only be defended by activists, orthe union as a whole or its members individually." "The people of Neuquén will defend it because Zanón belongs to the people." "They are going to have problems." "If they think they are untouchable now that the elections are over, they're mistaken." "Touching Zanón is much more than touching its workers." "And Neuquén will be a mess, big time." "Let's hope they get it because it could really happen." "And you will send us your nurses, Juan?" "Just in case!" "We need a nurse!" "We need a nurse!" "You are welcomed at the hospital's emergency room." "And this is the end of "Our fight on the airwaves"." "We'll have some music now..." "My tongue got tied..." "On radio you have to be serious but if you can have laughs, why not?" "You want nurses?" "But when they come you don't say a thing..." "When Zanón closed the factory the workers put it back into production" "They worked for 18 months and took on more people!" "This is a remarkable situation that serves as an example in a country" "full of corruption." "The Justice system, the Legislature, the government." "From the smallest town to the largest city, it's all plagued with corruption." "This experience really moved this country, and it's not the only one." "We're talking about over 100 factories put back into production by the workers," "For the government it's like a cancer." "And they want to get rid of it." "The political power, both provincial and national, wants to wipe away all traces of this kind of experience." "That's what's at stake, that's is the struggle." "We have to null any attempt to stop it." "I call for a massive protest." "All of us who support Zanón must be there." " Is there anything left?" " Yes..." "And for my friend Oepillo?" "Why do we have to resist?" "We have work until Tuesday, decent work to support our families." "And then what?" "If we let them evict us, what will happen then?" "Blocking the roads to get a subsidy?" "They avoid saying the word "eviction", they prefer to use the word "inventory"." "But all communiqués always refer to the preceding." "And the very first one says: "eviction"." "We have to be very careful." "We say: "They will not come in"." "But we already said "yes" to a simple inventory." "So if on Tuesday we say:" ""Oome in for the inventory", people will say:" ""How come they came in?"." "Anything could happen." "We have to avoid loosing the support we have now," "We have a massive support now." "We can't loose it overcouple of details." "So we have to be careful with what we say... and do." "First:" "Nobody leaves this place." "They'll have to drag us out." "Second:" "Organization and discipline, our "ceramist's discipline"." "Third:" "In the worse case scenario." "How do we go on the day after?" "You have to have a plan A, a plan B, a plan O, pretty well oiled..." "And then what?" "Nobody knows what could happen." "The government would pay a high political price, but nobody knows what could happen next." "The important thing here is the conflict." "Some leaders will be on one side, and some on the other." "But that's our role, and we are aware of that." "If there's an eviction, I'm going to jail, for sure." "We're not going to change our minds at the last minute." "We won't change our position." "We can't allow ourselves to give up the fight." "We must stand firm here." "Let's make this clear for everybody:" "Even if the trustees tomorrow, leave even if they're accompanied by the police, we can't let catch us off guard." "We have to be ready." "We are ready for tomorrow, but we have to go on." "This struggle will go on." "We have to be ready, and I think we all agree, forthe worse case scenario." "Always ready for the worst." "If it changes for the better, then we'll celebrate." "If the worst comes to the worst, we'll have to handle it." "I hope they retreat so we move on and attack." "But we can't retreat, right?" "It's quite clear, right?" " How do we feel?" " Fine." "And the people who don't want to defend their jobs?" "I'm fed up!" "That has to end for good!" "This is no time to be afraid." "Tomorrow, no matter what, we'll be on the offensive." "We are the same workers who used to produce a million meters for Zanón." "We've always been decent workers." "When we want to fight for our rights, they call us "subversives", lefties, and stuff like that." "They forget we are the same workers who fed Zanón and his family." "We'll put an end to it tomorrow." "Above all, our families have to stop suffering." "I'll say it very clearly:" "If they touch my family, I'm capable of killing." "I don't give a damn." "We are not beasts, we are workers." "We want to work with a decent salary." "That's all." "We want to defend the school, and everything else." "But if we don't defend the factory, we're dead." "I'd rather die fighting than starve to death at home." "April 82003" "The smell of blood attracted AZUL TV." "ORONIOA will also come, but these guys are worse." "They're like vultures." "Oomrades, I wanted to let you know that one of the trustees is here in Neuquén." "He's sorting out the final legal proceedings." "He's asked for police support to execute his orders." "We don't know yet if he's coming here with lots of policemen." "We have to keep on waiting and see how it goes, we still don't know what it'll happen." "Oomrades, the trustees are on their way" "I want to point out a couple of things." "We need some of our "ceramist's discipline"." "And no provocations of any kind." "Let's stick to our "ceramist's discipline"" "We'll demand to see what their orders are to see what may be negotiable." "That's all comrades." "I now confirm they are on their way." "Keep all that in mind, and things will turn out well." "Governor Sobisch said he wouldn't provide any police." "I'm here to execute official court orders." "I have to come in." "I have to come in." "Oan't I come in?" "The workers' assembly asked us to inform you that you may enter only to do an inventory." "The orders authorize the trustees to take over and to do the inventory by a notary." "We believe this take over implies eviction, sooner or later." "I have no idea of the consequences." "I'm here today to take over the factory." "We've always been willing to let you do the inventory." "If you don't accept the distinction between the two measures we have reason to believe that this insistence on repossession will mean, sooner or later, the eviction of the workers." "We can't deny it, and nobody can deny it." "This is an atypical case, an irregular situation." "The judge will have to take a decision." "Atypical, yes." "Irregular?" "It needs discussion..." "It's not the time orthe place to discuss it." "What's atypical is an official of the Executive Power carrying out judicial duties." "We've legally objected to it." "That's your interpretation." "We're here to execute this order and we need the justice officer to give us the chance to take over, and if not, we will leave." "What will you do?" "Will further measures be taken?" "This man has just confirmed he's not interested in making an inventory, but in taking overthe factory and evicting the workers." "They'll call the judge and he'll take a decision." "Zanón belongs to the workers!" "Damn it!" "We have several things to talk about." "The most important thing is that we are fine, we're very well indeed." "What an idiot!" "What can I say?" "I was moved..." "Next time, you give it to me..." "What I really need to do today is say hello to Lucia and Natalia, otherwise I'm a dead man." "We all agree today was a historic day for workers' activism in Argentina." "Absolutely." "Leaving aside how it felt from the inside, this victory shows the strength of workers when they have a clear message and truly sound actions." "Having a speech is one thing, but protesting is something else." "We've firmly demonstrated it." "I want to send my love to Lucia and Natalia who have put up with me throughout all this time." "And to all of our kids who have really supported us." "I owe them this much." "A big kiss for my beloved kids." "Let's continue with the bill you're proposing." "It's not a crazy idea and we didn't make it up." "Article 200 of the Oonstitution of Neuquén says it clearly:" "When a property, a factory, or land is being exploited in an irrational manner or even exploited in a profitless manner the State is obliged to expropriate it and make it available for the community's needs." "Like many rights, workers' rights are always stepped all over, and private property rights are always more important." "But the intention of the workers is to continue being workers and earn a salary." "Doubtless, this factory is really profitable." "Zanón mined it and brought it to the brink of bankruptcy through his business deals, cleared it out, and stole money from the community of Neuquén." "He kept all loans and benefits given to the factory by the province of Neuquén." "This is a factory that could generate huge profits" "It's now working at 15ºlo of its potential and that's enough to break even." "The nationalization won't be a burden to the State." "The State wouldn't have to raise taxes to maintain it." "On the contrary, it could increase the income flow," "And all that, under workers' control." "That's why we say:" ""Nationalization", managed and controlled by its workers." "You, the workers, would be accountable to the community about the factory's situation." "It's a very well defined bill." "We can all check it out on the Zanón workers' website." "Soon, it'll also be out on the streets." "It has the legal grounds and an analysis of the reality." "We live in a rich province but paradoxically, poverty and hunger rank way high." "That's why we're trying to change all this." "Alejandro Lopez is here with us." "He made us all cry, the other day, with his speeches." "For us, all of this is extremely important." "I remember when we occupied the factorys entrance, and exchanged flyers for food." "Four very hard months." "The comrades walking the neighborhoods, looking for food for their children." "The time when prisoners donated their food rations for three days." "Many times we felt very discouraged and took our troubles home" "and, at home, they put up with us, they supported us, and told us to keep on fighting." "They were very tough times." "The struggle started back then, by just a couple of us, went on to include more organizations, to become what we are today." "This change of mentality, will never disappear," "never... never... ever." "Because it goes deep inside." "On behalf of Aanón workers, on behalf of our families," "on behalf of those who defended this factory, those ready to risk their lives for a more equal society." "And in memory of the disappeared who longed for a better world." "The workers of Aanón are committed to keep on moving ahead." "As of tomorrow, we wont be defending only Aanón." "Were going for our own project, because we're ambitious." "Just like when we wanted an intemal commission, and after the commission, we wanted an union, and after the union, a factory for the workers." "Today we want a more equal society for all workers." "We accept the responsibility and won't take a single step back." "That's how we feel, comrades." "Workers united!" "If you don't like it, tough shit!"