Ri-Maflow

Ri-Maflow, Fabbrica Recuperata

Located in: Milan, Italy | Activity: Household appliances recycling

Transnational car parts producer Maflow was sold to an investor who shut down the plant in December 2012 removing most of the machinery. In February 2013 former Maflow workers occupied the plant, together with precarious workers and workers from a nearby factory closed after fraudulent bankruptcy. The 20 workers participating full time in the project started recycling computers and electronic household devices, opened a bar and cafeteria and organized a flea market, cultural activities and a group for solidarity shopping. They plan to transform the factory into a plant for industrial recycling. read more »

Experiences: 

Take back the factory: worker control in the current crisis

The economic crisis that began in 2008 has put workers’ control and workplace democracy back on the agenda in the countries of the northern hemisphere.

During the first decade of the current century, factory occupations and production under workers’ control seemed to be limited mainly to South America, with a few exceptions in Asia. It was beyond the imagination of most workers and scholars in industrialized countries that workers would or could occupy their companies and run them on their own. Nevertheless, the crisis that started in 2008 put workers’ control back on the agenda in the northern hemisphere. In the course of the current crisis, factory occupations occurred throughout Europe, especially in France, Italy and Spain, but also in other countries, including Switzerland and Germany, and in the US and Canada. read more »

Occupy, Resist, Produce - RiMaflow

The first in a series of short documentaries on the recuperated factories of Europe.

In February 2013 former Maflow workers occupied the plant, together with precarious workers and workers from a nearby factory, which had been shut down after fraudulent bankruptcy. The 20 workers participating full time in the project completely reinvented themselves and the factory. They started recycling computers and electronic household devices, opened a bar and cafeteria, organize a flea market and cultural activities with the community, and have built alliances with local organic agricultural producers and together they have created a group for solidarity shopping. They plan to transform the factory into a plant for industrial recycling. read more »

Workers of self-managed factories meet in Marseille for the “Workers' Economy” international meeting

This first European “Workers' Economy” gathering brought together workers of self-managed occupied factories with academics, activists and organizations that promote and study self-management.

Fralib is a herb processing and packaging factory located 20-odd kilometres away from the southern French port city of Marseille. The previous owner of the factory, chemical and agri-food giant Unilever, decided 3 years ago to move production of Lipton tea abroad to save on labour costs. The 80 workers, through protest and boycott campaigns, have demanded that the factory stays open and, after this proved impossible, they decided to take production into their own hands. read more »

After factory shutdown, Italian workers ‘recycle’ jobs

A group of Italian unemployed factory workers take over their disused factory near Milan and plan to set up a recycling business.

A group of Italian factory workers who lost their jobs at an auto component maker due to the recession, have taken over their disused factory near Milan and are planning to set up a recycling business as they struggle for dignity.
“We were considered rejects in society and we recycled ourselves,” said Gigi Malabarba, an unemployed man who has joined the initiative. read more »

When Workers Takeover: From Redundancy to Ri-Maflow

Italian workers occupy the factory where they used to work and run it as a cooperative recycling electronic components.

Have you heard the story about the Italian workers who took over the bankrupt company that previously employed them and started a new cooperative, all while doing something for the environment? read more »

RIMAFLOW WANTS TO EXIST!

An appeal of support to the self-managed factory Ri-Maflow in Milan, Italy.

This appeal in support of the self-managed factory Ri-Maflow in Milan, Italy has already received international support. Collective and individual support can be sent to : rimaflowvuolevivere@gmail.com. All donations to help the factory continue are most welcome. read more »

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