cyu
4th November 2009, 01:02
Excerpts from http://www.labornotes.org/node/2545
http://www.labornotes.org/system/files/imagecache/story_image/files/leads/marcha_en_centro.jpg
In the Kraft Foods cookie and candy factory north of Buenos Aires, management refused to act on simple, government-proposed safety measures against swine flu—such as paper towels--and touched off a firestorm of worker discontent that included a 38-day sit-in, a police attack, and marches of thousands of supporters.
Eighty occupied the plant, while their co-workers struck, picketed, and blocked highways. Around the country thousands of students, union activists, and other groups held solidarity actions.
On September 25 police took the factory from the occupying workers and attacked with tear gas, rubber bullets, dogs, and horses. They arrested 65 people and injured 12, including workers and their family members. The assault was televised live, and millions of Argentinians witnessed levels of violent repression not seen since the 1976-1982 military dictatorship or the December 2001 rebellion which removed the government in the wake of a major economic collapse.
The conflict at Kraft is igniting other popular protests across the country, with student associations, human rights groups like Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, and unions representing subway workers and hospital employees demanding an end to union repression and mass firings.
http://www.labornotes.org/system/files/imagecache/story_image/files/leads/marcha_en_centro.jpg
In the Kraft Foods cookie and candy factory north of Buenos Aires, management refused to act on simple, government-proposed safety measures against swine flu—such as paper towels--and touched off a firestorm of worker discontent that included a 38-day sit-in, a police attack, and marches of thousands of supporters.
Eighty occupied the plant, while their co-workers struck, picketed, and blocked highways. Around the country thousands of students, union activists, and other groups held solidarity actions.
On September 25 police took the factory from the occupying workers and attacked with tear gas, rubber bullets, dogs, and horses. They arrested 65 people and injured 12, including workers and their family members. The assault was televised live, and millions of Argentinians witnessed levels of violent repression not seen since the 1976-1982 military dictatorship or the December 2001 rebellion which removed the government in the wake of a major economic collapse.
The conflict at Kraft is igniting other popular protests across the country, with student associations, human rights groups like Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, and unions representing subway workers and hospital employees demanding an end to union repression and mass firings.