From: "LaRoca" <marielaross@ciudad.com.ar>
Subject: Brutal repression of ceramic workers in Neuquén by the Police
Date: Sun, Dec 2, 2001, 4:31 PM

Brutal repression of ceramic workers in Neuquén by the Police

The workers of Ceramica Zanon (one of the largest porcelain and tile factories in South America) have been on strike for more than three months demanding the payment of their salaries and the re-opening of the factory. The bosses stopped production on the grounds that they were not making profits. During this time the workers have organised demonstrations, festivals of solidarity, and picketing, and have blockaded roads and bridges.

In spite of a court ruling in favour of the workers that established that the company was carrying out an "offensive lock-out", and an agreement that workers would receive their September and October salaries, on November 30 the company closed the plant and sent redundancy notices to 380 workers.

Following a mass meeting held the same day, the workers marched to the provincial government building in Neuquén to protest. They burnt their letters of dismissal, threw eggs at the building and burnt tyres on the corner of the street. Minutes later the police arrived with a water-cannon with which they doused the fire. The workers accepted this action of the police but asked for the withdrawal of the anti-riot squad. More people spontaneously joined the demonstrators, who at that point were surrounded by the police. The chief of police ordered the withdrawal of the anti-riot squad but at that moment a tear gas grenade was discharged – "accidentally" according to the police. Following this, a scuffle started and the police opened fire with rubber bullets despite the fact that the workers were completely unarmed. They then chased people, particularly anyone who was wearing a brown shirt – the uniform of the workers of the factory. The workers defended themselves and were helped by their wives and daughters who obstructed the police from making their arrests. The police also attempted to arrest the general secretary of the Ceramic Workers' Union of Neuquén (SOECN), Raúl Godoy – who is a leading member of the Partido de Trabajadores por el Socialismo – and other activists.

The demonstrators looked for shelter in public buildings, trade union offices and even in the provincial hospital which is close by. The tear gas affected the patients of the hospital and groups of small children who were leaving a nursery school. Altogether 19 workers were arrested and 9 injured.

Two hours later Zanon workers assembled with their families and other trade-unionists. More than 3,000 people marched through the city demanding the release of the 19 workers who had been arrested, chanting "Here we are, the workers of Zanon!" as people waved and clapped from their balconies.

The arrested workers were released and at a meeting later that evening Raúl Godoy and Julio Fuentes of the CTA (one of the Argentinean trade union confederations) called for the continuation of the struggle to reopen the factory.

National Congress of Ceramic Workers

The workers of Zanon have managed to extend the struggle to other ceramic factories in the province. On December 2, they held a national meeting inside the plant – which has been closed since October – attended by representatives of ceramic workers, other trade unions and political organisations from all over the country.

Godoy is calling for a national strike of ceramic workers, and has stated that the Friday repression will boomerang against the government.

Also on December 2, there was a cultural festival with performances by Zanon workers, their families, students, and the university choir. Entrance to the event was by a donation of food – the Zanon workers have not received their last two months' salaries.

On December 3 there will be another march to the provincial government building in defence of jobs, this time called jointly with public sector workers. Delegations from the CTA trade union confederation, the Mothers of the Disappeared, human rights organisations and political parties are expected to attend.

The Zanon workers have set up a strike fund to enable them to continue the struggle, and would like to appeal to organisations in Argentina and throughout the world to send financial donations.

The bank account details for the strike fund are:

Bank: Banco Nación Branch: Neuquén
Account Number: 376807605/8 (in US dollars)
Account holder: Angel Velázquez

You can also send a letter of support to:
Raúl Godoy
General Secretary
Sindicato de Obreros y Empleados Ceramistas de Neuquén ceramistasneuquen@hotmail.com

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