[Peace-discuss] Chicago Factory Occupation: Argentina all over again?

[webmaster at one-world.org]

Here's a little background on how worker takeovers went down in  
Argentina.  I know the US is different, but I think some of the same  
strategies might apply....

After the 2001 economic crash in Argentina, around 200 bankrupt and  
closed-down business were occupied and then taken over by their  
workers. Most of these workers formed cooperatives to manage the  
business without the boss, and run it themselves. Eventually, dozens  
of these "recovered" businesses were granted legal recognition by the  
government, which used eminent domain to transfer ownership from the  
original owners to the worker coops, giving a 20-year mortgage at  
favorable lending terms.  It's a complex and inspiring tale; you can  
see a good documentary about it, called The Take (Naomi Klein & Avi  
Lewis), for an excellent introduction.

As it turns out, "recovered" businesses are doing rather well. They've  
discovered that the previous owners were pretty much unnecessary for  
running the business; ditto with top management. Most of the working  
people are paid at least as well as they were before the takeover, and  
many are getting paid more. In any case, it seems to be a good way to  
put a business back to work quickly, in a way that preserves peoples'  
jobs. Basically, the state settles the bankruptcy on the state's  
terms, in effect nationalizing the business, and then appoints the  
productive workers to run it. In Argentina, the 20-year loan is  
sometimes based on the amount of the outstanding credit settlement.

I've been in Argentina recently, and conducted interviews with workers  
at many of these businesses for the dissertation I am writing. I would  
love to make contact with someone among the Republic workers, and make  
sure they know about what's going on in Argentina. I could even share  
some Argentine contacts with recovered businesses, so they could swap  
notes. In any case, someone should let them know about this model for  
keeping a business from shutting down. A good lawyer and a sympathetic  
city council could make this happen here.

So, there you have it.  Do you think such strategy could work?  If not  
in this case, then eventually, somewhere else?  I think a lot has to  
do with A) mass, and persistent public support, including rallies, and  
B) the right people on a local city council.

Anyone who wants more info on the Argentina situation, please let me  
know.  I can provide some good links (especially for people who can  
read Spanish).

Ciao,
John.