A Leader of Cipla/Interfibra Is Threatened with Imprisonment!

From the very moment they took control of the bankrupted and closed factories to save their jobs, the workers of Cipla/Interfibra have been faced with threats of all sorts -- from the threat of having the closed factories' machinery auctioned off to the highest bidder, thereby destroying the industrial plant and the jobs of the workers, to the threat of arrest and imprisonment of its leaders.

Now, at a time when the negotiations are under way with the Labor Courts over the social debts of the factories, the Factory Council has just been issued a threat by two agencies of the federal government, which, despite pledges over the past two years to help the workers, has done nothing to help.

The Ministry of the Economy and the Social Security Department are now demanding the payment of millions of reais - a demand that was never made of the bosses when they administered the factories. The federal government is threatening to repossess machinery and a percentage of current sales income to pay off the back debt owed by the former owners. Failure to pay off the owners' back debts could result in heavy prison sentences for the leaders of the occupied factories. The federal courts are insisting that 30 million reais be paid as a first installment.

On March 29, seven officers of the Federal Court system showed up at the Cipla factory with a court order to seize 15% of the sales' income of the factory for the purpose of debt repayment. This would make it impossible for Cipla to continue operating. If this payment is not made to the government before the 5th of every month, Serge Goulart, financial and administrative coordinator of the occupied Cipla/Interfibra factories, could be thrown in jail.

On April 6, another judicial edict was issued to seize an additional 5% of the gross sales' income to pay the former owners' back debt. Failure to pay this sum also would result in the imprisonment of Serge Goulart.

The Factory Council has decided that it will not turn over to the federal government the sums that are demanded, as this would mean not being able to pay the wages of the factory workers.

The Factory Council also has decided that it will expand its campaign and mobilizations demanding that the Lula government nationalize the occupied plants.

On March 31, in downtown Joinville, at a rally called to organize the "National March for Agrarian Reform and the Nationalization of the Occupied Factories" -- which will be held from April 18 to May 2 -- the workers called on the federal government to provide an immediate solution to their demands, just as they denounced the threats of having 1000 jobs destroyed.

The workers are not responsible for these debts and for the non-payment of back taxes by the former bosses. That is why they will not pay the federal government the sums it is demanding.

Reiterating yet again their call for the nationalization of the factories, they have called for a face-to-face meeting between the workers' representatives and Mr. Luis Dulci, first secretary to the President of the Republic. The purpose of this meeting is to insist that President Lula and the Ministers of the Economy and of Social Affairs follow through on their public pledge to meet with the Cipla/Intefibra workers, at which time they will be asked to place of stay of execution on the proposed measures by the federal courts.

The workers call on all supporters to redouble the pressure on the administration through mass mobilizations, as well as resolutions and letters addressed to the Lula government demanding the nationalization of the occupied factories so that all jobs of the Cipla/Intefibra workers can be saved.

The Cipla/Intefibra Factory Council also wishes to inform the general public that "a commission of three state banks -- BNDES, BESC and BRDE -- mandated by the Lula government to study the viability of the Cipla and Interfibra plants, concluded its investigation with the following statement, 'the largest financial burden on these enterprises stems from the federal and state institutions (taxes, social charges, etc.) Given the extent of the liabilities (more than 500 million reais, or US$180 million) in relation to the productive capacities and sales opportunities, only one solution is possible to save the enterprises and their 1000 jobs: Our suggestion is that by decision of the federal government, the BNDES, in partnership with the BRDE, take responsibility for the entire amount of the companies' liabilities, hence taking control of the enterprises and permitting them to return to financial solvency'." (Letter from Superintendent of the BRDES to the President of the Republic, February 10, 2005)

As far as the Factory Council and the workers at Cipla/Interfibra are concerned, the only conclusion possible is, more than ever -- that the federal government, the boss of these state banks, issue the order to nationalize both factories.

Deutsche Zusammenfassung

Seit die Betriebe - vor mehr als zwei Jahren - nach ihrer Bankrotterklärung besetzt und von den Belegschaften weitergeführt wurden, wurden sie auf verschiedenste Weise bedroht: Von Haftandrohungen gegen die Ratsmitglieder über geplante Auktionen des Maschinenparks...

Ende März und Anfang April 2005 sind den beiden Unternehmen bundesgerichtliche Bescheide übermittelt worden, denen zufolge sie 20 Prozent ihres Umsatzes zur Bezahlung geschuldeter Sozialabgaben verwenden müssen - ersatzweise Haft für Serge Goulart, den Sprecher beider Betriebe. Eine ähnliche Forderung war an die alten Eigentümer nie gestellt worden - ihre Erfüllung wäre das Ende der 1.000 Arbeitsplätze.

Deswegen fordern die Belegschaften ein direktes Gespräch mit der Bundesregierung, um ihre Forderung nach Verstaatlichung der Betriebe dem Präsidenten Lula vortragen zu können - zumal die öffentlichen Entwicklungsbanken in einem Gutachten über die Wirtschaftlichkeit der Betriebe festgestellt hatten, dass diese nicht bezahlten Sozialabgaben die grösste Gefährdung der wirtschaftlichen Existenz dieser betriebe seien - und vorgeschlagen hatten, die Bezahlung zu übernehmen.

Die Belegschaften haben diverse Anlässe genutzt, ihre Forderung nach Verstaatlichung in die Öffentlichkeit zu bringen und werden dies auch weiter tun.

(hrw)