Argentina

World workers' news round-up

ARGENTINA Last month a judged ordered that a public notice of ownership be posted at the ceramics Zanon factory in Argentina. The notice would have allowed a venture capitalist or the previous owner to buy Zanon Ceramics for pennies. More than 470 jobs and the workers’ administration of Zanon could have been in danger, as a new owner could have immediately requested their eviction of the factory. However as no “interested parties” registered, the judge had to close the registry and it cannot be re-opened. Zanon workers and their supporters are now lobbying the courts to declare the factory...

Thugs attack Zanon workers

Workers at the Zanon factory in Argentina are appealing for solidarity after a series of attacks by thugs. The Argentina Solidarity Campaign reports that in February the wife of a Zanon worker was abducted by four men and suffered a beating and verbal threats before being released to “give the union the message”. This is not an isolated event — there have been threats against a judge who is acting in the case of Pepe Alveal, a young Zanon worker who lost his left eye as a result of police violence during an unemployment organisation meeting last October. Alejandro Gómez and Raúl Godoy...

Argentina: Defend Zanon workers against eviction

Argentina’s movement of occupied factories is an inspiration in the fight against neoliberalism, and an important symbol that another world is possible, necessary and emerging. One of the jewels of this movement is the worker-controlled ceramic tile factory of Zanon in Neuquen. Under worker control since 2002, the factory has increased employment 50% in the last year from 300 to 450 workers. The Zanon workers have managed this democratically, with decisions made in open assemblies. The Zanon workers have also built deep popular support in the province of Neuquen, and have shown their...

March for Zanon

On 14 September a delegation of Zanon workers and participants in the Unemployed Workers’ Movement (MTD) travelled to Buenos Aires in Argentina to organise a national campaign to defend the factory. Since March 2002 Zanon’s workers have run the factory under workers’ self-management without owners, bosses or foremen. A delegation of 170 activists — 100 workers from Zanon and 70 from social movements supporting the factory — arrived in the morning in Buenos Aires to march to a local court and national congress against a government eviction order on the factory. The march was part of a...

International round-up

Unions at Wal-Mart! After years of dogged attempts to organise unions in Wal-Mart, workers in Canada are starting to make some gains at this, the world’s largest retailer. In August, the Quebec Labour Relations Board certified a union at the Wal-Mart store in Jonquière, Quebec after more than half of its 145 workers signed cards to become members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). A mandatory contract will soon have to be agreed — and that would create the first union branch at Wal-Mart anywhere in North America. Workers at a Wal-Mart store in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, are...

Workers of the World - ROUND-UP

Zanón factory - two years under workers' control Anti-privatisation protest in Thailand Korean workers win wider union rights Zanón factory - two years under workers' control Every day, the 330 workers of Zanón Ceramics Factory who both work at and run the largest ceramic floor-tile factory in Argentina are, legally speaking, usurping the factory and its machinery. That they have been able to sustain this legally precarious situation for two years is due to the incredible solidarity they have garnered from their local community in Neuquén. While an outstanding order to evict these workers has...

Workers of the world Round-up

By Pablo Velasco Colombian oil workers halt privatisation: solidarity works! "Massive summer strikes" planned in Korea ANC against anti-privatisation activists Argentine workers fight for a six-hour day Colombian oil workers halt privatisation: solidarity works! Colombian oil workers have won their struggle against privatisation, thanks to their resolute strike action backed up by international solidarity. In the last issue of Solidarity we reported on how the Colombian government was trying to break the month-long strike at Ecopetrol, the national oil company, using military force. The Uribe...

Stop the repression in Argentina!

Argentine police attacked the workers and their supporters on 25 November in scenes reminiscent of the military dictatorship. The assault took place in Neuquén, where members of the Unemployed Workers Movement (MTD) and the local neighbourhood assembly in San Lorenzo barrio were trying to meet. At least twelve people were injured by live ammunition and dozens of others were wounded by rubber bullets and "task forces" that entered homes and beat their victims. Heriberto Chureo, chair of the Neighbourhood Commission of San Lorenzo and leading MTD activist was shot in the abdomen. Horacio...

The myth of Peron

At our meeting on 22 October, Haringey & Hackney AWL branch discussed the myth of Peron, and working-class politics in Argentina . This was the third in our series of meetings about 'the politics behind the shows' , following on from discussions on Vietnam ( Miss Saigon ) and the French revolution ( Les Miserables ). Paul Hampton gave a talk about the issue: this is a summary of what he said. Juan Peron is perhaps the most famous Argentinian (other than Diego Maradona!). Many people know of him through the musical and film, Evita . The reality, though, is that he was populist, nationalist and...

Workers of the world: Round-up

By Pablo Velasco South Africa Charges against Anti-Privatisation Forum dropped Solidarity with Cambodian hotel workers! Support Argentinian food workers Criminal trials of Chinese workers begin South Africa Charges against Anti-Privatisation Forum dropped Anti-privatisation activists in South Africa arrested in March had the charges dropped last week, in a climbdown by ANC-led authorities. 52 members of the Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF) had been arrested in the run-up to the recent election on charges of participating in an illegal gathering. But before the APF activists could actually appear...

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