Argentinia: occupied self-managed factory Zanon again threatened with eviction

The ceramic tile factory Zanon in Neuquén has been occupied since October 2001 by the workers and has been manufactoring products under workers control since March 2002. In this time the workers collective could expand staff numbers from 250 to 400, and raise the production of tiles from 10000 m2 tiles monthly to more than 300000 m2, resisting five eviction attempts, the last in April 2003. Of the about 180 enterprises, which were occupied in Argentina in the time of the economic crisis, only Zanon remains without (temporary) legal status. The workers of Zanon persist on their aim to nationalise the factory and to bring it under state control so they can produce there in autonomy for the public (instead of for the market). Nethertheless, they created the cooperative FASINPAT (Fábrica sin Patrones - factory without bosses), in order to enable achieving a legal status as a temporary solution. So far this cooperative has not been recognized. Instead judiciary and politics prepare since the beginning of august for a new offensive against this outstanding example of worker autonomy.

The local government (governor Jorge Sobisch) interfered for the first time in the conflict and produced a plan: the workers are to leave the factory - instead a building company for prefabs (prefabricated buildings) is to be started, in which 250 Zanon workers could be employed. The Supreme Court of Justice likewise intervened with an announcement: it instructed the judiciariy and executive in Neuquén to immediately carry out the eviction ruling of the judge Páez Castañeda from Buenos Aires (which had not happened last year because of the workers' determination and the big support). And finally the judge Páez Castañeda announced a meeting of the creditors for the 25th of february. Then the owner Luis Zanon could declare bankruptcy, and the creditors could demand their share of the debts. Also this could mean eviction or seizing the means of production and thus the end of workers' control in the factory. Regarding this new threat, the workers of Zanon tightened the security arrangements for the factory. They reject the suggestion to build houses instead of burning tiles. Why should particularly tile workers from a functioning factory build subsidized low-rent housings, in an area, where thousands of building workers are unemployed?

The workers from Zanon are still determined to defend their factory with all means and continue to have broad support. In the main city of the local area, Neuquén, already thousands took to the streets against the eviction threat.

On the 20th of august 400 representatives from different movements and factories have met in the occupied hotel “Bauen” in Buenos Aires in order to discuss the further process. The repeated threat against Zanon is part of a general aggravation of the political climate in Argentina. On the 12th of august the 100 workers of the occupied factory Gatic (Adidas), which is located in the south of the province Buenos Aires, were evicted with tear gas, clubs and rubber bullets. So far president Kirchner was rather endeavored to make a progressive impression and to avoid such open repression. What will happen, when the terms finish soon, with which the first occupied enterprises were temporarily (usually for two years) expropriated? The workers of Zanon demand a law over the final expropriation of the autonomously organised factories and call for a demonstration demanding this for 10 September in Buenos Aires.

Contact details for the workers of Zanon: email: prensaobrerosdezanon (at) neunet.com.ar web:  http://www.obrerosdezanon.org


more information:
 http://www.pts.org.ar/
 http://workerswithoutbosses.net/

information in German:  http://www.wildcat-www.de

There is also a video about Zanon, produced by AK Kraak, "Mate,Ton und Produktion Zanon - eine Fabrik unter Arbeiterkontrolle", D./Arg. 2003, AK KRAAK, 53 min. (17,50€ + Porto 2,50€)  http://akkraak.squat.net/ See also:  http://www.obrerosdezanon.org  http://germany.indymedia.org/2004/08/90685.shtml