1. Tue, 21/10/14

    Workers’ Self-management, Recovered Companies and the Sociology of Work

    An article that analyses how far Argentina’s worker-recovered companies have become sustainable production models whilst maintaining their values of equity and workers’ self-management.

    We analyse how far Argentina’s worker-recovered companies (WRCs) have sustained themselves and their principles of equity and workers’ self-management since becoming widespread following the country’s 2001–2 economic crisis. We find that the number of WRCs has increased in Argentina, and that they represent a viable production model. Further, they have generally maintained their central principles and even flourished. This occurred despite the global economic crisis, legal and financial pressures to adopt capitalist practices and management structures, the risk of market absorption and state attempts to coopt, demobilise and depoliticise the movement.
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    Geographical: Era: Topic: Experiences: 
  2. Wed, 11/06/14

    We want to build a workshop with our communion and solidarity!

    DirenKazova – DİH Kazak ve Kültür

    On the 31 January 2013 our boss, the Somuncu family, put us on the doorstep. We felt helpless. We were 94 labourers, our 4 months’ salary, seniority and termination was confiscated with fraud by Somuncu family. Some of us just went home, some found new jobs. Our boss had fled with the machines, yarns and the sweaters we had made. They left us with nothing except scrap. We were without a trade-union. Earlier attempts to be union members were suppressed by the pressure of the boss.
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    Geographical: Era: Topic: Experiences: 
  3. Wed, 28/05/14

    Victory for the Fralib Workers. A New Chapter Begins.

    After a three and a half year battle, an agreement has been signed between Unilever and the Fralib employees. This agreement provides for a 20 million euro financial contribution from Unilever for damages caused by the decision to close the tea and herbal infusion factory. The tea and herbal infusions cooperative can be set up and quality production on the site can restart.
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  4. Thu, 24/04/14

    Argentina’s recuperated workplaces

    The emancipatory potential and the limitations of workers’ control

    During the 1990s and in the immediate aftermath of Argentina’s economic meltdown in 2001-2002, the country witnessed an unprecedented formation of heterogeneous social movements such as newly founded trade unions, the unemployed workers’ movement, neighbourhood assemblies, garbage collectors, swap shops and recuperated workplaces. While most initiatives quickly disappeared during Argentina’s economic recovery in the years following the crisis, occupied and recuperated enterprises successfully emerged as the strongest and most organised form of popular protest. The workers’ longstanding struggle for the recuperation of the means of production, in part, radically altered existing forms of representation and participation within the workplace. read more »

    Geographical: Era: Topic: 
  5. Thu, 17/04/14

    The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital Work-in

    a contemporary documentary for the work-in campaign 1976-9

    In 1976, after a long period of neglect by the health authorities, the Department of Health in the UK announced that the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (EGA) Hospital - a hospital for women in central London, where women were treated by women staff - would be closed. read more »

    Geographical: Era: Topic: Media: 
  6. Thu, 06/03/14

    The workers' economy: a global challenge

    a report from the workers' at the occupied Officine Zero inRome

    Workers from the occupied Officine Zero reflect on the conference in Marsailles and on their own experience.

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  7. Sat, 01/03/14

    Hotel Bauen and workplace recuperation in Argentina

    Despite being under constant threat of eviction by the state, the recuperated Hotel Bauen in Buenos Aires remains a shining example of workers’ control.

    One of the most emblematic of the over 350 recuperated workplaces1 in Argentina is the Hotel Bauen. Located down the street from the Congressional building and close to the Pink House, Hotel Bauen is seen by all and visited by tens of thousands a year. read more »

    Geographical: Era: Topic: Experiences: 
  8. Fri, 14/02/14

    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 »

    Geographical: Era: Topic: Experiences: 
  9. Thu, 13/02/14

    Occupy Sandy builds worker power in Far Rockaway

    Begun in the spring of 2013, WORCs (Worker-Owned Rockaway Cooperatives) is an initiative to rebuild after Sandy in a way that addresses both the storm’s impact and the long-term systemic issues in the neighborhood. The program’s goal is to equip Far Rockaway residents with the skills and financing to launch small, worker-owned businesses that fill a need in their community. read more »

    Geographical: Era: Topic: 
  10. Wed, 05/02/14

    Letter from Ernest Mandel to Ken Coates (September 1969)

    On organisation and factory occupation

    This important letter from Ernest Mandel to Ken Coates addresses two seperate questions. Firstly Coates, along with Tony Topham and other activists in the Institute for Workers Control (IWC), were working with the Shop Stewards Action Committee at GEC/EE in Liverpool planning an occupation to resist redundancies at the plant. The letter offers some observations by Mandel on the issues involved in occupation, the potential for continuing manufacture, as well as running 'an iscolated plant under workers' control'. read more »

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