How long has it been since you were in here?
Oh, for me it's been 2 or 3 years.
They fired me before the factory closed down.
I just found my maté cup.
What's strange is that there aren't any pigeons.
Maybe on their last visit they took the pigeons too.
This place used to be full of pigeons.
Vacations by the sea
The Peron government delivers on its promises.
Arriving at the Miramar resort are tourists of all ages and both sexes,
who are going to have a happy vacation by the sea.
Michel Camdessus Managing director, IMF
If you want to get your factory back, guys, get your asses in gear.
You're owed 3.2 million pesos in unpaid wages.
Let's pressure them with that.
The factory is worth 3.6 million.
They're offering half a million. This is ridiculous.
Let's keep the factory and forget the money they owe us.
We have to think about this, about the takeover.
Because you've seen that they already want to sell the trucks,
with the excuse of paying for the security.
But that's just an excuse.
We won't let them, we won't let it happen.
They're taking the heart out of this factory so we can't start it up.
I didn't work here.
I'm from the National Movement of Recovered Companies.
You were the workers at this factory.
You're the ones who will get the jobs back.
This may sound like a jingle to you, but it's not a jingle.
The National Movement of Recovered Factories has a slogan:
Occupy,
Resist,
and Produce.
I worked for 15 years in this factory as a tool and die maker.
My monthly salary was $1200, it was really good money.
Today I don't have that.
Thanks to Forja we have this house.
For some people it may be nothing, but to us it's everything.
It used to be that the money I made I could spend on myself.
I used to buy perfume, creams, makeup and clothes.
We had credit cards.
Well, we both worked but we would enjoy what we earned.
I think it's been a year since we've gone anywhere.
It's been some time.
They don't even remember what a McDonalds Happy Meal looks like.
Before we weren't worried but now we are.
And what I earn now doesn't cover it all.
It covers food or the debts.
If I pay the debts the girls don't eat.
If the girls eat, I don't pay the debts.
I prefer not to pay the debts, so they build up...
This is big, brother.
How could we be suffering and going hungry...
when such a huge place is just sitting here, closed?
Look, there's even cobwebs.
You know which cable is missing?
Remember the one that we put there for the crane?
That's the one that's missing.
This used to be completely full.
Here you can see the outlines,
and in the other warehouse as well,
there were containers full of raw materials.
Now there isn't one. Not a single one.
They all disappeared.
It's a disaster.
You know what worries me? There aren't any pigeons.
This place used to be filled with pigeons.
- They must have died of sadness - Of hunger.
But this is a sin.
It's been 3 years since they fired me,
and I haven't found another job.
Now I come and I see the things in my locker,
like the drawings that my son did.
It makes me feel bad to see all of this shut down.
I don't know what else to tell you,
everything's dirty.
In the cooperative,
we'll all be administrators.
I'll check on what he does, and he'll check on me.
Of course we're going to have to be more conscientious,
and not be too bourgeois, like before under the boss.
When you would duck into a corner for a break whenever you could.
Now, no. If a light is on, turn it off if it's not necessary.
The salaries will all be equal.
There won't be exaggerated salaries like there were before,
which was one of the things that caused all this.
In the community of San Martin, on this day, March 7th.
We have found a significant number of things missing.
Which is why our assembly has decided, by a majority,
that from this date, we will guard the factory permanently,
in order to protect the premises,
and stop the factory from being emptied out.
Now everything depends on the judge.
That's why we're staying here. From today until...
Until they kick us out.
We don't know how to do this.
We're just learning.
Our goal is to get to where other recovered companies are today.
Those who went through the same struggle that we are facing now.
Like Zanon Ceramics.
Zanon is our inspiration. I think we'll get there.
"Forja San Martin: Occupied Factory"
"Zanon Ceramics: Belongs to the Workers"
Luis Zanon Owner Zanon Ceramics
I'm going to get it back.
The government will give it back to me.
What the guys in Zanon did,
fighting against the police,
with just marbles,
like when we were kids with slingshots,
against real weapons,
they took over the factory.
A little question...
What do you think of the Zanon plant under worker control?
That it works better than under the former owners.
Because at least people are working.
The tiles are cheaper...
and the future is brighter than it was under the owners.
All they did was get subsidies from the state - nothing else.
And they kept the money for themselves.
All I know is that the community supports them 100 percent.
Because they're not stealing, they're not killing anyone.
On the contrary - they're working to feed their families.
There are many companies that should be in the hands of the workers.
But it seems that this is not politically convenient.
That's the real problem.
And now that we are in production...
Mr. Zanon, you can kiss our asses!
What can I say?
It's not true, it's not of the people.
The investment was mine, all the work was mine.
I put in everything. It can't be "of the people".
Raul Godoy Zanon Union Leader
There's another word:
Expropriation.
And that's what we're going for.
Here comes the explosion
Of my guitar
And your government
As well.
"Zanon is of the people: Support the workers"
Workers, without ideology, without trying to prove anything,
Luis Zamora Member of Parliament
out of necessity, are putting factories back to work.
It's exactly what Capitalism, every day, tries to prove is impossible.
Bosses are supposed to be indispensable.
Instituto Comunicationes Private School
Under Worker Control
Clinica Medrano Health Clinic
Under Worker Control
What we've learned is that in a business,
participatory democracy is more efficient.
Because if you vote often,
you get used to winning,
but you also get used to losing.
Also you learn to accept the decision of the majority.
Astillero Almirante Brown Shipbuilding Under Worker Control
Ghelco Ice Cream Factory Under Worker Control
Brukman Suit Factory Under Worker Control
We pay ourselves a fair salary.
We discuss how much money we have, how much to save,
and how much to take.
For us as workers, accounting is easy.
I don't know why it's so hard for the bosses...
to pay salaries, buy materials, and pay the bills.
For me it's easy - you add and subtract.
How are you?
How's it going?
Are you inside already?
Get him to tell you what happened here.
He's one of the pioneers of this movement.
He's complaining a lot about the attitude of some of the companeros.
Here's what bothers me:
You break your back, 30 or 40 guys from the very beginning.
Then the rest come and say "okay, I'm part of the cooperative."
"I want a job."
No no no.
If there's not enough work for all,
then the first 40 get priority.
Who decides that?
The assembly, the assembly.
If you can do it, take a militant attitude,
beyond just being a worker.
That you are making history.
My name's Freddy Espinosa, president of Forja San Martin,
an auto parts plant.
In the name of Forja, I'm grateful for all the help you can give.
I think we are all in need in this process.
I was quite naive - I kept giving dates to my family.
I told them, "hold on a month until December 14th."
December 14 arrived: nothing.
"Hold on until January 14th."
January 14th arrived: nothing.
I have a daughter who is seven and she asks me every day,
"Papa, don't you work?"
And I don't know how to explain it to her.
Sometimes it crosses my mind to just give up everything.
Lalo tells me to hang in there, we're almost there.
But it's hard.
There were days when all we had was...
eggplant and fried potatoes.
I swear, on my children.
Unfortunately, I thought that this process would be shorter.
I know most of you went through this but...
I just wanted to tell you my story.
This movement of recovered companies...
...has become something serious.
We're almost 200 companies, with thousands of jobs recovered.
It's a dignified struggle, full of beautiful experiences.
But we have a big obstacle.
The same people who dragged us into misery and unemployment,
those who took everything from us,
are now trying to come back.
And for us it's a major threat.
I know some people are angry at me...
... because they feel I haven't given them all I could.
And they are right.
But I was also angry.
God made me face pain.
I confronted adversity.
I was on my knees.
Now I'm on my feet.
So let's go!
Menem, the third presidency.
The historical one.
We will impose order.
We will saturate the streets of the Republic.
We will enforce respect for the State of Law.
Among other things, the right to private property.
If Menem wins,
there's no way we'll get to run this factory ourselves.
Menem is like the factory owner.
They represent the same interests.
Rich impresarios, poor factories and workers.
Rich politicians, and the people dying of hunger.
They're the same, the same interests.
And they protect each other.
I spoke to him, I visited him in prison.
We saw each other after he got out.
He told me: 'I will change everything.
I'll give you back your factory.'
We have an occupied business here - we're unemployed workers.
We're not going to take propaganda...
...from a guy like Menem, who swindled the whole country.
We're ripping these down so people don't have to read this shit.
Come back Carlos, come back now!
Come back Menem...
...to live in the new Argentina!
This says: "Our dreams don't fit on your ballots."
And that's what I feel.
That's what brought me to the decision not to vote.
This is the porcelain workshop,
one of the many our organization runs for the unemployed.
Not only to say "no" to eviction...
But also to go to the legislature and say "approve our bill now."
It's been a year already.
Let's go on the offensive.
If we say, "please, don't evict us," we're dead.
Forget polite government lobbying.
It's all about direct action and direct democracy.
From the moment we got together,
we were able to get this factory in production.
And now it's a national movement.
In our last national meeting,
it was clear that a new politics is emerging.
And more than just feeling part of it,
we feel like pioneers.
My baby's not going to believe in a saviour.
I don't know what he'll believe later,
but what I'll try to teach him is that he can do it on his own.
And that he doesn't have to follow anyone.
No political boss, king, or saviour.
That son of a bitch Menem, I don't even want to see him.
Of course we don't want to see him.
Kirchner.
Even less.
What are you doing with that thing?
Kirchner.
There are lots like him.
They have "Kirchner" stickers...
...because they're paid 15 pesos a day,
to be politically active and round up votes.
Today he has a Kirchner sticker,
last week he was putting up Menem posters.
I don't blame him: I blame the person who hires him.
That's the jerk who's screwing him.
Ah... you noticed it.
What's this doing in my house?
One of the jerks I criticize, who hires guys like him,
is my mom.
Hi boys, how are you?
Canadians.A bunch of Canadians.
Welcome guys, welcome.
I'm a Peronist.
We have a Peronist family.
The one who presides over this house is Evita.
What I want, what I need,
I'm not going to get by voting.
No, I don't understand it.
I don't understand not voting.
Girls, go with Pachi.
Well, that's it Pachi, you're in charge.
Go straight there.
Be alert on the bus: don't get lost!
Making his entrance now...
the candidate for president of all Argentines...
Nestor Kirchner.
The next president of Argentina.
The time has come to produce.
The time has come to work.
The time has come for workers to be valued.
The time for auctioning off our patrimony and our dignity is over.
Thank you very much.
Peron, Peron, how great you are!
My general, how precious too!
Peron, Peron, great leader!
You are first among workers.
Everything smells new!
The truth is that for all of us,
this factory is like Mecca.
How do you see the possibility of us working with you?
I don't think there will be a problem.
We need forged pieces.
Well, this is a big help.
Freddy - could you guys make those?
These? I can do these with my eyes closed.
This is what we've achieved.
We've agreed that they'll send us the raw material,
we'll forge it,
deliver it to them, and begin to do business like this,
for 87% of the forged pieces that the tractors have.
If the judge, Dr. Fernandez, understood this,
she would understand that we can self-manage the factory.
I hope that one day, if things turn around and we start producing,
I'll be the first to help other cooperatives.
You can bet on that.
"Madame Judge: In your decision lies the future of our children."
So what's happening here, who are these people?
This man is the trustee.
He's the middle man between the judge and buyers on one side,
and the workers on the other.
Is he the one who sold all the raw materials?
Exactly. He's the guy who sold everything.
Is he an enemy?
Yes, yes...
I don't think he's supposed to be on anyone's side,
but for us he is an enemy.
We were planning to start work on Monday.
We were thinking that Monday we would start working.
Really?
OK...
It's important for us to know...
your opinion of this process we're in.
We have no experience.
All we want to do is fight for what's fair...
I think it would be best if you got all your answers...
...in the audience with the judge.
Who is the representative of the cooperative?
Sir, that would be me. Pleased to meet you.
Is there a union representative?
Yes. Mr. Murua, from the movement.
OK, please come in.
Judge: Let us theorize.
To manage anything with an occupied factory...
...is practically impossible.
Nobody will make an offer for a plant which has been taken over.
Now, what would you like to say? I'm listening.
Lalo: I'm grateful that you are listening, Your honour.
For us it was important...
...that our assembly decided to take over the factory to save the premises...
Judge: Excuse me, but they are guarded.
As you have seen, there is nothing missing.
Lalo: No, that is not the case, Your honour.
We have testified before that there were things missing.
Judge (to Trustees): Gentlemen, is there anything missing?
Trustee: We know of absolutely no change...
Judge: And we have a signed inventory...
Trustee: Your honour, this is the first I've heard of any of this.
Nobody has ever said even a single word to us about anything missing.
Lalo: Excuse me, but I was present...
Trustee: And I can attest to this with absolute certainty,
because it deals with the responsibility of the trustees.
Lalo: I'm sorry, perhaps I am not addressing you properly...
Judge: No problem, you are addressing me perfectly.
I am clearing things up because you're confused.
I am fighting for you to get paid and get working,
and you're getting in my way by taking over the factory!
I am not interested in your proposals until you show good faith,
and end the occupation.
The same thing happened...
...with our Lord, Jesus Christ,
who provoked great hatred great love, and ended up crucified.
Although I don't want to compare myself to him,
I too...
Why?
Because we have to change...
what's going on under the interim government.
We need change.
I think that with Menem there is going to be more stability,
there's going to be work,
and we're not going to have to beg for 150 pesos a month.
How long are we going to keep lazing around?
First of all, let's start with an easy point.
He says he wants to open factories, Menem closed factories.
He privatized, and the debt went up.
So Menem, no.
Menem sold everything, he sold the country.
The politicians want us to believe...
...that through elections we'll fix everything,
and have justice for all.
But today, the whole IMF team is at the Sheraton hotel,
keeping an eye on the political situation in our country.
And it's there where the decisions are being made, really.
"IMF: who's controlling them?"
Hi.
Is it so cold?
She's frightened.
We went to La Plata.
And they gave us the runaround, as usual.
We're going back on Thursday.
Yes, I see that you all came back.
No. This is going to take a long time.
What a pity.
He says it's only been three months.
Three months? For me, it's been three years already.
It's long, the struggle.
You know, the virgin I pray to is deaf.
I have a virgin back there, poor thing,
she doesn't want to listen anymore.
She can't take it any more.
Yes, I'm tired.
We've lost all the material things.
Outings with the girls, vacations.
But to share a maté, a plate of food,
a game with the girls,
this we've both tried not to lose.
Even if he comes home tired,
he always has five minutes to spend with our girls.
No, there are things that they are not going to steal from us easily.
They may have stolen our dignity,
his above all.
The saddest thing is a man without work.
A humiliated man.
But I think he's going to get it all back.
We're here so that he can get it back.
He, and his companeros behind him.
We're for Kirchner here, grandmother.
What do you think of him?
Do you think he's all right?
Yes.
I'm going to give you the ballot. This is the ballot.
Kirchner - Scioli.
Yes.
I'm not going. I'm not going to vote.
"Voters: It is forbidden to distribute ballots within 80 metres
of the polling station"
What's up?
How are you Graciela?
I'm just waiting for a companera that I came to pick up.
Hey, who are you going to vote for?
For Menem?
I don't know.
Take this, you idiot.
Vote for Kirchner.
According to the exit polls, Menem is winning.
Lend me your spoon?
I don't want to leave to get one.
It's a blow.
It's a blow because...
...the 19th and 20th was for "Que Se Vayan Todos,"
every one of them should go."
And there they all are.
Those five candidates there are the ones that we wanted gone.
Sad.
Very sad.
You can see that Argentines from 1976 up to now,
have erased their memories.
And they have erased such recent memories...
... of everything that's happened to us.
And the one directly responsible is Menem, for this whole disaster.
In first place, Menem - Romero. In second place, Kirchner - Scioli.
Scioli being the first candidate to admit that there will be a runoff.
The guys are cleaning the factory area by area.
With hope, always thinking positively.
But underneath there's the chance that they could evict us at any time.
There's always that danger stalking us.
We're really afraid: that's something we can't hide.
"Order, Security. With Menem, it's guaranteed"
Matilde Adorno Brukman Worker
I got home from mass at midnight.
I changed into pyjamas and turned on the TV.
That's when the phone rang.
I jumped up, knocking over everything in my path.
My co-worker Elisa said: "Matilde..."
And that was it. I knew it.
This eviction notice probably comes from the National government,
maybe with the help of Menem, with support from the bosses.
Silvia Delfino Political activist
Brukman belongs
to the workers!
And those who don't like it...
can screw themselves!
History is history - there have always been bosses and workers.
But we are fighting for worker control.
And I think it's possible.
I don't know if I'm getting ahead of myself here,
but maybe we can run the country this way.
I can see it now!
Brukman and Zanon,
under worker control!
Brukman belongs
to the workers!
And those who don't like it...
can screw themselves!
I'm going back to the front.
You stay here and calm things: it's getting really hot.
Yeah, the people are all angry.
Companeros! Stay calm,
because they're in there negotiating with the judge.
Please, try not to get worked up...
... until we see what comes of that meeting.
Our national constitution gives unrestricted protection...
...to property rights.
Judge Jorge Rimondi Ordered Brukman eviction
And we judges are here to ensure that people comply...
with that constitution and those laws.
Yes, yes, we're going to return.
We have no doubt.
And I invite you to come inside to continue filming once we do.
Police Chief! We want to talk to you.
We're asking the police to leave.
We're not going to leave because there's a judicial order.
We're staying here until the judge tells us to go.
Are you thinking about shedding blood?
No! You are!
The City Government is contacting the Ministry of Labour.
So you're going to have to wait for the results of that.
No, Ma'am, you cannot come in. No.
I'm telling you, you're not getting in.
Companeros! Help us and give us your support. Please!
We're staying here and keeping watch.
And when the moment seems right...
...we're going to try to get in companeros!
OK guys, once again we have to go to La Plata
to put some pressure on the politicians to pass our law.
I know you're tired, and some think it's pointless
to go back to the legislature.
But we have to go and pressure.
It's the only way to get our expropriation.
Are we all in agreement? Yes.
We'll vote on the project: all in favour?
Passed unanimously.
Approved. The bill will be sent to the chamber of deputies.
I'd like to thank everyone for your support.
And Lalo...
I trusted him when he came to my house and said,
that this was possible.
And it's true, it is possible.
It happened.
Hola, it's Miguel.
Hi Dad, how's it going?
Hang on.
Yes, listen to me.
I'm in La Plata.
Two minutes ago they passed the expropriation law for us.
Yes, and soon I think it will be approved by the deputies too.
Look, I can't talk a lot.
Don't worry Dad, tell Mom I'm fine.
The law is practically ours.
It all worked out. First in the senate, now to the deputies...
...who I believe will pass it tonight.
Bye.
I think we workers know how to do it,
we've put our hearts into this, and god willing...
this factory is going to start running,
but run by the workers.
This is a short song that fits with the time we're living in.
Please, put your hands together!
It's by Mercedes Sosa.
And it goes like this...
Who said that all is lost?
More clapping!
Did you like it or not?
"Who said that all is lost?
I come to offer my heart
So much blood washed away by the river
I come to offer my heart
It won't be easy
But it will pass
It won't be as simple as I thought at first
Like opening one's chest and pulling out one's soul
Like a stab of love"
Open up a path!
We're going in - just us.
It's okay, it's okay. Be calm.
Let's go over there, where there's no police.
These workers have been helping my sister,
who worked with them.
She's sick with cancer.
They've been helping her: my sister can't work.
These are the supposed "bad guys."
Meanwhile, the Brukman bosses would deduct a day's pay...
...when my sister would go for chemotherapy and radiation.
They would dock her a day's pay.
These workers are the ones who are going to get the country going.
These are the people we should support.
The factory has never been run the way that they run it.
Nobody is the owner.
It's each one of them.
And what's most beautiful is that they haven't forgotten...
...their sick companera.
And what's beautiful is that they collect their own pesos to help her.
Because otherwise we wouldn't be able to continue the treatments.
These are the people that count.
These are the people of Brukman.
Thank you.
The great majority of Argentines...
...understood that Menem's model was exhausted.
Menem realized that he was going to lose the second round,
because the people were saying no to him and "the model."
So he dropped out.
Why did you quit?
I won in the first round, now I'm leaving.
"You are history"
"With this news we're going live to Nestor Kirchner."
I will take on with courage and decisiveness...
the responsibility of governing the republic.
Now he's president, guys.
I believe that the president will have to help us,
that he'll help cooperatives.
And not multinationals,
because they put their money in, do what they want, then leave.
And this president, I believe, will start like this - from below
With respect to the IMF,
we'll see if they like the idea that we are a cooperative.
They might say, 'leave it to the market,
and fuck the worker.'
This is what we're doing here today, this cooperativism.
is our way of making a new world.
To sweep away the old one.
It makes me sad that you're leaving now,
and our story doesn't have a happy ending.
It's going to be like the Matrix.
"To be continued..."
The Sequel.
You know the sequel would be beautiful.
With Forja working full time, with 100 or more employees,
noise at night, during the day, Saturdays, Sundays.
It would be nice when you film the sequel if you could see...
everything that Forja was,
and everything it will be.
Why not?
Six months later...
Now, every time the machines stop,
everyone comes to see what's going on.
It's only been three days that we've been hearing the noise again.
It's incredible what's happening to us.
Because we missed this noise. The truth is we really missed it.
Zanon Ceramics has increased production and hired new workers.
Despite his fiery rhetoric, President Kirchner signed
a new deal with the IMF.
It looks a lot like the old deals.
The city legislature of Buenos Aires gave the factory back
to Brukman workers.