Greek Mining Factory Workers Vote for Self-Managment

[Dan Clore]

News & Views for Anarchists & Activists:
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http://libcom.org/news/workers-mining-industry-factory-northern-greece-vote-factory-self-management-10072012

Workers at Mining Industry factory in Northern Greece vote for factory
self-management

Statement from workers at a mining industry factory in Greece announcing
their decision to take over their factory under workers' self-management.

“You can’t? We can!” Workers at Mining Industry factory in Northern
Greece vote for and prepare for self-management of their factory –
victory to the workers!

Concerning the struggle at VIOMIHANIKI METALLEYTIKI (Mining Industry) in
Thessaloniki

The administration of VIOMIHANIKI METALLEYTIKI, a subsidiary of
Filkeram-Johnson, has abandoned the factory since May 2011, along with
its workers. In response, the workers of the factory abstain from work
(epishesi ergasias: the legal right of workers to abstain from work
should their employer delay their payment) since September 2011. The
Workers Union at Viomihaniki Metalleutiki has organised 40 workers all
of which are, to date (one year after the closure of the factory)
active, taking shifts at the factory to ensure that no equipment is
removed by the administration or stolen. All the workers also
participate in the General Assemblies.

The proposal of the Union in order to escape this dead end – as the
Administration has stated the factory will not reopen, due to the lack
of funds – is for the factory to go into workers control, a proposal
voted by 98% of the workers at the General Assembly. More specifically
they ask for the factory to be passed on to the workers and for all the
members of the Administration and workers sitting in the administrative
council to resign, with no claims from the future workers’
self-management of the factory.

In regard to the initial capital, which is necessary for the operation
of the factory, the proposal of the workers is for the Greek Manpower
Employment Organization (OAED) to pay them in advance the sums they are
already entitled to after becoming redundant.

Finally, the workers at Viomihaniki Metalleutiki demand the introduction
of legal status for co-operative enterprises, in order for their own and
for future initiatives to be legally covered.

In the struggle of the workers of Viomihaniki Metalleutiki, apart from
the self-evident value that we see in every workers’ struggle and every
workers’ demand, we also recognise an additional value, which comprises
exactly of this proposal of self-management. We believe that the
occupation and the re-operation of factories and corporations by their
workers is the only realistic alternative proposal in face of the
ever-increasing exploitation of the working class. The self-organisation
of factories that close down is the only proposal that has the force to
mobilise the working class – which, living under the constant threat of
unemployment, cannot see ways in which it can resist.

We know that the difficulties we shall face in the struggle for the
self-management of the factory are many, since state and capital will
fiercely stand against it – as a possible victory shall create a
precedent and and example for any other struggle in the country. Yet the
question of whose hands the production lies in becomes a question of
life and death for a working class pushed into degradation. For this
reason, the workers’ struggles orientated in this direction and the
forces standing in solidarity to these struggles should be prepared to
clash with state and the administration in order to materialise the
occupation of the means of production and the workers’ self-management.

We call for every union, organisation and worker to stand in solidarity
to the struggle of the workers of VIOMIHANIKI METALLEYTIKI and to
actively support the workers both financially and politically.

OPEN ASSEMBLY:
Wednesday 11/7/2012,
6pm at the Labour Centre of Thessaloniki.

Movement for Workers’ Emancipation and Self-Organisation

--
Dan Clore

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"From the point of view of the defense of our society,
there only exists one danger -- that workers succeed in
speaking to each other about their condition and their
aspirations _without intermediaries_."
--Censor (Gianfranco Sanguinetti), _The Real Report on
the Last Chance to Save Capitalism in Italy_