Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

30,000 Protest PepsiCo Factory Closure, Police Repression

ARGENTINA: Tens of thousands take the streets in solidarity with PepsiCo workers in Argentina

Left Voice

July 19, 2017
Facebook Twitter Share

Sign the petition in solidarity with PepsiCo workers.

Also, donate here to support the workers fight for their jobs and help Left Voice send a solidarity delegation to Argentina. Send photos with a message of solidarity to [email protected]

Approximately 30,000 people gathered at the base of the Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires on Tuesday to march for the laid-off workers of a closed PepsiCo factory. Workers, supporters, unionists and politicians marched peacefully through the downtown area before arriving in front of Congress where organizers set up a large tent. Shop-floor representative of the PepsiCo workers Camilo Mones stated that the tent would serve as a base in “continuing the fight.”

ddd-2.jpg

The march demanded the reinstatement of over 600 workers in a factory of the multinational corporation and producer of countless snack products, PepsiCo. The workers discovered they had lost their jobs by way of a note on the door of the closed factory on the morning of June 20th. PepsiCo decided to move their production from the plant in northern Buenos Aires to Mar del Plata, where there is little rank and file organization of the workers. At the Buenos Aires plant, the shop floor commission is led by workers who are in the Trotskyist Partido de Trabajadores Socialistas (PTS) as well as being led by combative, independent workers. The anti-bureaucratic shop floor committee organized workers organized regular assemblies where workers voted to fight for better conditions on the job, as well as solidarity with movements like the International Women’s Strike and Ni Una Menos. This is why PepsiCo wants to shut down this particular factory.

matias_bag.jpg
Photo by Matías Baglietto

When faced with losing their jobs, the workers didn’t give up so easily, taking over the factory and setting up an occupation. They also protested the closure throughout the following month and raised awareness of their plight.

On Thursday July 13th, the workers and their supporters were violently evicted from the factory, bringing an even greater outpouring of support from the city, the nation and the international community. The PepsiCo struggle was on the cover of many major newspapers, often running favorable stories about the workers struggle. On the same day, a Division 6 court ruled that the closure was illegal due to a lack of proper paperwork demonstrating an economic crisis for the factory and incorrectly filing of Crisis Prevention Procedure. The court then ordered that the workers be reinstated. The results of the court case are yet to be seen, as PepsiCo is likely to appeal the decision. In the meantime, organizers in support of PepsiCo continue to protest.

tues_pepsico_2.jpg

Many unions, organizations and political parties were represented in the march on Tuesday, as well as unaffiliated supporters, journalists and activists. Some groups included the Central de Trabajadores (CTA), Suteba, the Education Workers Union (UTE), the State Workers Association (ATE), student organizations from the University of Buenos Aires, members of the #NiUnaMenos movement, workers from factories of other multinational corporations, students from the University of the Madres de Plaza de Mayo, the Frente Milagro Sala, the Labor Lawyers Association, the political parties of the Left Front and the Socialist Workers, and many others. This represents a united front of different workers organizations and unions in defense of PepsiCo workers.

coke_workers.jpg

At the front of the march were PepsiCo workers, particularly a group of women workers who have come to be known as the “lionesses” of PepsiCo. Alongside them marched one of the Madres de La Plaza de Mayo. Cecilia, a fired PepsiCo worker said, “I have been at PepsiCo for 20 years. At first it just had three production lines and now it has 6. This means the company grew and it grew at our expense, it grew on our backs and because of our labor.” She went on to say to the crowd, “This struggle is not just for us. It is for all of those who have been fired in this country.”

pepsico_7.jpg
Not one more of us without a job

The March ended in front of the National Congress, where the workers set up a tent that will serve as a center for organizing the struggle not only of PepsiCo workers, but of the workers who have been relentlessly attacked by government austerity measures and by company layoffs. Workers and their supporters will be there 24 hours a day.

The march showed the ongoing support for workers the of PepsiCo and workers all over the world. It demonstrates that the resolute actions of workers, against all odds, can find support in massive numbers of people and put a real fight against firings and austerity.

However, the war is not over. For now, the workers and their supporters continue to fight. #TodosSomosPepsico.

Facebook Twitter Share

Left Voice

Militant journalism, revolutionary politics.

Labor Movement

Prof. Gail Green-Anderson of LaGuardia Community College at a rally outside Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Manhattan office on Thursday.

Rekindling the Militant Spirit of CUNY’s Past

Mayor Eric Adams has announced an austerity budget that includes significant cuts to the City University of New York among other city agencies. In order to defeat these cuts, students, faculty, and other workers across the city must unite our struggles and be prepared to shut the university down.

James Dennis Hoff

May 22, 2023

Over 11,000 TV and Film Writers Go on Strike Across the Country

The WGA strike has the potential to deal a blow to systemic hyper-exploitation in entertainment, and establish workers as a fighting force within the industry.

Ezra Brain

May 2, 2023
People in New York march on May Day 2022 holding a banner that reads "No contract no peace."

This May Day, the Stage Is Set for Class Struggle

This May Day, we reflect on the state of the U.S. labor movement and some of the demands we must fight for in the next period.

Left Voice

May 1, 2023
United Parcel Service and the Teamsters hold a rally before before the beginning of the largest U.S. private sector labor contract talks covering more than 330,000 U.S. drivers, package handlers and loaders at the global delivery firm, in Orange, California, U.S. April 15, 2023.

The Fight of Our Lives: 2023 UPS-Teamsters Contract Campaign

Workers at UPS are gearing up for a contract fight this year. To revive the labor movement and win meaningful gains, it’s essential to increase the involvement of rank-and-file UPS workers.

Left Voice

May 1, 2023

MOST RECENT

This Pride Month, There is Hope In Fighting Back. Pride is in the Streets.

Pride is in the streets. It is the history of our community, it is the history of our struggle. Let us do them honor.

Ezra Brain

June 2, 2023
A rainbow display at the supermarket Target during Pride Month 2022.

Target Doesn’t Care about LGBTQ+ People

At Target and Anheuser-Busch, policies of inclusion and diversity have clashed with profit ambitions.

Pablo Herón

June 2, 2023
University of Michigan campus

Campus Cops Intimidate Grad Workers in Ann Arbor, Michigan

We publish here a statement by the Graduate Employees' Organization detailing and condemning the repressive tactics of the University of Michigan administration in response to the strength and resilience of striking grad workers.

Left Voice

June 1, 2023

Tracking, Deportations, Internment: European Countries Go on the Hunt for Migrants

On May 10, German chancellor Olaf Scholz strengthened Germany’s anti-migrant policy. This means more deportations, border patrol reinforcements, and economic agreements with sending countries. The new policy is being deployed throughout Europe.

Leo Stella

May 25, 2023