Occupy, Resist, Produce! From Argentina to Europe

• In Event: On Protest II: “Endemic crises and continuing protests in comparative and transnational perspective”

Abstract

Taking over a workplace facing closure and running in common is a tactic rapidly spreading from Latin America to Europe. In Greece, France and Italy, workers have all taken over - recuperated – their source of work rather than face unemployment. Following the lead of the Argentines, often through direct relationships and sometimes even direct exchanges, workers have decided to run their workplaces together, horizontally and with equal remuneration. This is distinct from a cooperative in that the workers are directly challenging private property. Similar to the post 2011 global movements of the squares, these workplace recuperations are not organized by political parties or unions, and do not first ask or demand solutions from their governments – instead they form assemblies and using direct collective action take over their workplace and put it under production.

This paper will examine the new recuperations in Europe, where the presenter is currently conducting research, and will then ground those experiences in the Argentine example, an experience about which the presenter has published a great deal. The paper will then follow the evolution of the recuperations in both places, particularly looking at the question of changing production to forms that are ecologically sustainable. It will also examine the central role workers in Argentina have played in the success of the recuperations in Europe.

Author

• Marina Sitrin, Center for Place Culture and Politics, CUNY Graduate Center