Original article, by ANRED, via In Defence of Marxism:
It would seem that the force of the wind, which was blowing at more than 60 km/hr in the Neuquén capital, was an omen of what was to come. 26 deputies supported the definitive expropriation and this sealed the declaration that the factory was of public interest and the transfer of Cerámica Zanon to the Fasinpat cooperative.
A victory for workers who occupied a factory when the bosses tried to sack them. Amazing. Of course, we'll be told that there's no way something would work in a country such as the US. On the other hand, we really haven't tried it yet.
"This is amazing. We are happy. The expropriation is an act of justice. We will not forget the people who supported us during the most difficult times, nor the 100 thousand signatures that supported our project," said an emotional Alejandro López, General Secretary of the Sindicato Ceramista de Neuquén (Neuquen Ceramic Workers Union - SOECN) and part of the political leadership of Zanon.
Keep in mind that the capitalist ideal can't allow for worker ownership. Indeed, the good of the people who work for a company comes far down the totem pole: Profits are the bread and butter of the capitalist, damn the workers who actually produce the goods.
Since Cerámica Zanon was taken over by the workers, 470 families live directly on the work produced by the factory which is estimated to have generated 5000 jobs indirectly. The symbolic struggle of the workers and the great support from the local community finally achieved legitimate recognition by the provincial government of the social and productive value that workers’ management has promoted since 2002, the year in which the workers began administrating the factory – without bosses, managers or owners.
In a world that allows for workers to own the means of production, in which production is based upon said workers' labor, the needs of the community can be met as well as keeping the company running. Workers are able to manage companies as well as produce at them. This means no need for the bosses and the middle managers.
I'll let you read the rest of the article. It shows how Ceramica Zanon's workers managed to gain control of their company. It also shows that a government can understand that an ongoing concern is more important that profits for the bosses. This is a lesson which we all can learn. The sooner, the better!