<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Vasilis Kostakis</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:kostakis.b@gmail.com">kostakis.b@gmail.com</a>></span><br>
Date: Sun, Feb 17, 2013 at 1:57 PM<br>Subject: Re: [seizing_building_commoning] Greek Factory Under Workers Control<br>To: Michel Bauwens <<a href="mailto:michel@p2pfoundation.net">michel@p2pfoundation.net</a>><br>Cc: Orsan Senalp <<a href="mailto:orsan1234@gmail.com">orsan1234@gmail.com</a>>, George Papanikolaou <<a href="mailto:georgepapani@gmail.com">georgepapani@gmail.com</a>><br>
<br><br>A brief report:�<a href="http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/occupied-greek-factory-begins-production-under-workers-control/2013/02/17" target="_blank">http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/occupied-greek-factory-begins-production-under-workers-control/2013/02/17</a><div class="HOEnZb">
<div class="h5"><br><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div class="gmail_quote"><br>
Betreff: � � � �[seizing_building_commoning] Greek Factory Under Workers Control<br>
Datum: �Sun, 10 Feb 2013 20:01:08 -0500<br>
Von: � �Marina Sitrin <<a href="mailto:marina.sitrin@gmail.com" target="_blank">marina.sitrin@gmail.com</a>><br>
Antwort an: � � <a href="mailto:seizing_building_commoning@lists.riseup.net" target="_blank"></u>seizing_building_commoning@<u>lists.riseup.net</a><br>
An: � � <a href="mailto:seizing_building_commoning@lists.riseup.net" target="_blank"></u>seizing_building_commoning@<u>lists.riseup.net</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
*Occupied Greek Factory Begins Production Under Workers Control*<br>
<br>
*Occupy, Resist, Produce!*<br>
<br>
�We see this as the only future for worker�s struggles.�<br>
<br>
Makis Anagnostou, Vio.Me workers� union spokesman<br>
<br>
Tuesday, February 12, 2013 is the official first day of production under<br>
workers control in the factory of Viomichaniki Metalleutiki(Vio.Me) in<br>
Thessaloniki, Greece. This means production organized without bosses and<br>
hierarchy, and instead planned with directly democratic assemblies of<br>
the workers. The workers assemblies have declared an end to unequal<br>
division of resources, and will have equal and fair remuneration,<br>
decided collectively. The factory produces building materials, and they<br>
have declared that they plan to move towards a production of these goods<br>
that is not harmful for the environment, and in a way that is not toxic<br>
or damaging.<br>
<br>
�With unemployment climbing to 30% - sick and tired of big words,<br>
promises and more taxes - not having been paid since May 2011, the<br>
workers of Vio.Me, by decision of the general assembly of the union<br>
declare their determination not to fall prey to a condition of perpetual<br>
unemployment, but instead to take the factory in their own hands to<br>
operate themselves. It is nowtime for worker�s control of Vio.Me.!�<br>
(Statement of the Open Solidarity Initiative, written together with the<br>
workers of Vio.Me � full statement: Viome.org <<a href="http://www.viome.org" target="_blank">http://www.viome.org</a>>)<br>
<br>
Workers in Vio.Me stopped being paid in May of 2011, and subsequently<br>
the owners and managers abandoned the factory. After a series of<br>
assemblies the workers decided that together they would run the factory.<br>
Since then, they have occupied and defended the factory and the<br>
machinery needed for production. They have continued to reach out to<br>
other workers and communities throughout Greece, receiving tremendous<br>
support. The solidarity and support of all of these groups, communities<br>
and individuals, has made an important contribution towards the survival<br>
of the workers and their families thus far.<br>
<br>
This experience of worker�s occupation to workers recovery and control<br>
is not new � either historically or currently. Since 2001 there are<br>
close to 300 workplaces that are run democratically by workers in<br>
Argentina, ranging from health clinics and newspapers and schools, to<br>
metal factories, print shops and a hotel. The experience there has shown<br>
that workers together cannot only run their own workplace, but can do it<br>
better. The example of Argentina has spread throughout the Americas, and<br>
now to Europe and the US. In Chicago, workers of New World Windows have<br>
begun production under workers control after years of struggles with<br>
former owners and bosses. And now in Greece, workers are again showing<br>
that the way forward � out of unemployment � refusing the crisis � is<br>
workers control and directly democratic self-management.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
�We urge all workers, the unemployed and all those who are affected by<br>
the crisis to stand by the workers of Vio.Me and support them in their<br>
effort to put in practice the belief that workers can make it without<br>
bosses! To participate in the struggle and organize their own fights<br>
within their work places, with directly democratic procedures and<br>
without bureaucrats.� (Union�s website: <a href="http://biom-metal.blogspot.gr" target="_blank">biom-metal.blogspot.gr</a><br>
<<a href="http://www.biom-metal.blogspot.gr" target="_blank"></u>http://www.biom-metal.<u>blogspot.gr</a>>)<br>
<br>
As with all factory recuperations, the question of initial financing is<br>
central. While solidarity has been able to maintain the lives of the<br>
workers of Vio.Me and their families, the capital needed to continue<br>
production is huge. The workers� union has a business plan that is<br>
sustainable, but will take time to get off the ground. These first<br>
months are crucial. Financial help can make all the difference. Any<br>
contribution is helpful.<br>
<br>
Direct financial support can be sent to the Vio.Me workers� union in<br>
Thessaloniki through the International Solidarity Website: <a href="http://viome.org" target="_blank">viome.org</a><br>
<<a href="http://www.viome.org" target="_blank">http://www.viome.org</a>><br>
<br>
Solidarity Statements as well as questions can be sent to:<br>
<a href="mailto:protbiometal@gmail.com" target="_blank">protbiometal@gmail.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:protbiometal@gmail.com" target="_blank">protbiometal@gmail.com</a><u></u>><br>
<br>
Signed,<br>
<br>
Thessaloniki Solidarity Initiative, Brendan Martin (Working World),<br>
Dario Azzellini and Marina Sitrin<br>
<br>
Supporters of this initiative include:<br>
<br>
David Harvey, Naomi Klein, Avi Lewis, John Holloway, Silvia Federici,<br>
George Caffentzis, David Graeber, Mag Wompel (<a href="http://labournet.de" target="_blank">labournet.de</a><br>
<<a href="http://labournet.de" target="_blank">http://labournet.de</a>>) and The Cooperativa de Trabajo lavaca, Buenos<br>
Aires, Argentina<span><font color="#888888"><span><font color="#888888"><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
-- <br>
Seamos realistas, hagamos lo imposible ~ che<br>
<br>
<br>
</font></span></font></span></div><span><font color="#888888"><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>P2P Foundation: <a href="http://p2pfoundation.net" target="_blank">http://p2pfoundation.net</a>� - <a href="http://blog.p2pfoundation.net" target="_blank">http://blog.p2pfoundation.net</a> <br>
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</font></span></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br>P2P Foundation: <a href="http://p2pfoundation.net" target="_blank">http://p2pfoundation.net</a>� - <a href="http://blog.p2pfoundation.net" target="_blank">http://blog.p2pfoundation.net</a> <br>
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