[Shadow_Group] Support Argentinian Workers of Worker-Run Companies

[shadowgroup-l at lists.resist.ca]

*Zanon*

*by Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein; December 04, 2004*

Dear Friends,

Workers at the Zanon ceramic tile factory - an inspiring, worker-run
factory in Argentina - have asked us to gather international support to
prevent their eviction.

The Zanon workers' co-operative is called FaSinPat, short for Fabricas
Sin Patrones, Factories Without Bosses. Their highly successful
combination of direct action and direct democracy is a precious example
of that other world that is possible and that is growing before our eyes.

Argentina's movement of worker-run companies involves 15,000 workers in
almost 200 democratic workplaces. It is building hope and a concrete
economic alternative in the rubble of Argentina's disastrous experiment
with neoliberalism in the 1990s.

Recovered companies are run by assembly - one worker, one vote. In most
of them, workers have decided that everyone should receive the same
salary. They are proving the viability of an economy run on an entirely
different value system - and they are growing. In the past year Zanon
has increased its workforce from 300 to 450, a 50% increase, without the
millions in public subsidies given to the former owner.

Zanon has cultivated a deep relationship with the surrounding community.
For 20 years the poor neighbourhood of Nueva Espaqa next to the factory
has been asking the provincial government for a health clinic. Earlier
this year Zanon workers voted to build a community health facility in
the neighbourhood and did so in three months flat.

Now the provincial government is threatening to illegally send in police
to remove Zanon's precious machines.The Zanon workers have told us that
a massive international petition in support of their struggle could make
a big difference with the various levels of courts and governments.

We urge you to sign the petition at
http://www.petitiononline.com/zanon/petition.html<http://www.petitiononline.com/zanon/petition.html> and to forward this
email to others encouraging them to do the same.

Thank you for your time and support,

Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein


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