"Argentina's Cooperative Future" (by Anna Maria Barry-Jester)

La Nueva Esperanza, a worker-run cooperative in Buenos Aires, is one of some 400 businesses to come under worker control since ArgentinaÕs economic crash in December of 2001. This movement to recuperate factories is one of the many legacies of the economic crisis.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:08:49 +0000

La Nueva Esperanza, a worker-run cooperative in Buenos Aires, is one of some 400 businesses to come under worker control since ArgentinaÕs economic crash in December of 2001. This movement to recuperate factories is one of the many legacies of the economic crisis.
view full-size image

ArgentinaÕs oldest balloon factory has been under worker control since 2004. Originally opened in the 1940s, after years of tax evasion and bankruptcy, the previous owner closed the factory over a weekend, leaving the workers a note on the door to inform them of their unemployment.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:08:52 +0000

ArgentinaÕs oldest balloon factory has been under worker control since 2004. Originally opened in the 1940s, after years of tax evasion and bankruptcy, the previous owner closed the factory over a weekend, leaving the workers a note on the door to inform them of their unemployment.
view full-size image

After closing the factory, the ex-owner illegally removed equipment intending to reopen the factory outside the city under a different name. Workers camped out for nine months before a judge ordered the equipment returned and gave control of the factory to the workers. Under a special business recuperation law, the Argentine government has allowed over 400 businesses to operate under cooperative status.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:08:54 +0000

After closing the factory, the ex-owner illegally removed equipment intending to reopen the factory outside the city under a different name. Workers camped out for nine months before a judge ordered the equipment returned and gave control of the factory to the workers. Under a special business recuperation law, the Argentine government has allowed over 400 businesses to operate under cooperative status.
view full-size image

Most everything at Nueva Esperanza is done manually. The ability to produce specialty shaped balloons has allowed the company to compete with lower priced imports and products from China and Brazil.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:08:57 +0000

Most everything at Nueva Esperanza is done manually. The ability to produce specialty shaped balloons has allowed the company to compete with lower priced imports and products from China and Brazil.
view full-size image

At least half of La Nueva EsperanzaÕs workers have been at the factory for over twenty years. When the factory closed they were owed many months of salary. As with most of ArgentinaÕs new cooperatives, workers felt ill-equipped to find other employment in the fractured economy, instead waiting over nine months to return to their jobs.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:08:59 +0000

At least half of La Nueva EsperanzaÕs workers have been at the factory for over twenty years. When the factory closed they were owed many months of salary. As with most of ArgentinaÕs new cooperatives, workers felt ill-equipped to find other employment in the fractured economy, instead waiting over nine months to return to their jobs.
view full-size image

The cooperative has still not been approved by the government for water pollution standards, one of the areas they are working to improve.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:02 +0000

The cooperative has still not been approved by the government for water pollution standards, one of the areas they are working to improve.
view full-size image

The air at Nueva Esperanza is thick with talc, a carcinogen known to cause tumors in the lungs. Despite health risks, many workers do not comply with safety standards, part of the legacy of the previous owner.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:04 +0000

The air at Nueva Esperanza is thick with talc, a carcinogen known to cause tumors in the lungs. Despite health risks, many workers do not comply with safety standards, part of the legacy of the previous owner.
view full-size image

With only 35 workers in a factory that once employed over 200, the cooperative has a difficult time completing orders.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:07 +0000

With only 35 workers in a factory that once employed over 200, the cooperative has a difficult time completing orders.
view full-size image

Balloons are counted and packaged for sale. With approximately 35 employees, La Nueva Esperanza makes around 1.5 million balloons a month.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:11 +0000

Balloons are counted and packaged for sale. With approximately 35 employees, La Nueva Esperanza makes around 1.5 million balloons a month.
view full-size image

Domingo works as the business manager of La Nueva Esperanza. As many of the workers lack even a high school education, they had difficulty with the pricing and distribution of goods when they earned cooperative status. They asked Domingo, an ex-employee with a college degree, to return and help. The cooperative is also home to a school program helping local residents earn a high school degree.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:13 +0000

Domingo works as the business manager of La Nueva Esperanza. As many of the workers lack even a high school education, they had difficulty with the pricing and distribution of goods when they earned cooperative status. They asked Domingo, an ex-employee with a college degree, to return and help. The cooperative is also home to a school program helping local residents earn a high school degree.
view full-size image

"One defends their job by working."

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:15 +0000

"One defends their job by working."
view full-size image

While the factory used to sell balloons within Argentina, Uruguay and the United States, the cooperative has struggled to sell outside of the Buenos Aires province. Many previous clients worried about the legitimacy of the factory when it became a cooperative.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:17 +0000

While the factory used to sell balloons within Argentina, Uruguay and the United States, the cooperative has struggled to sell outside of the Buenos Aires province. Many previous clients worried about the legitimacy of the factory when it became a cooperative.
view full-size image

Female workers clean up before eating lunch in their dressing room. The inherant problems of decision making in a cooperative have caused social rifts amongst the workers. Where they once ate together in the lunch room, they now seperate to different parts of the factory.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:19 +0000

Female workers clean up before eating lunch in their dressing room. The inherant problems of decision making in a cooperative have caused social rifts amongst the workers. Where they once ate together in the lunch room, they now seperate to different parts of the factory.
view full-size image

Workers at Nueva Esperanza say they enjoy work much more than they used to. Even with additional breaks during the day, there has been an increase in per employee balloon count since they became a cooperative.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:21 +0000

Workers at Nueva Esperanza say they enjoy work much more than they used to. Even with additional breaks during the day, there has been an increase in per employee balloon count since they became a cooperative.
view full-size image

Juan, 64, has worked at the balloon factory for over 25 years. His daughter and wife have a sewing business in their home. According to Juan, the emotional and financial support of his family allowed him to spend nine months protesting and petitioning for the reopening of the factory.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:23 +0000

Juan, 64, has worked at the balloon factory for over 25 years. His daughter and wife have a sewing business in their home. According to Juan, the emotional and financial support of his family allowed him to spend nine months protesting and petitioning for the reopening of the factory.
view full-size image

As Argentina deals with import/export taxes and continuous economic and political unrest, the future of the cooperatives remains uncertain.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:25 +0000

As Argentina deals with import/export taxes and continuous economic and political unrest, the future of the cooperatives remains uncertain.
view full-size image

La Nueva Esperanza is a micro example of the countryÕs larger issues; all of the promise and potential but a legacy of poor management and faulty principals have left a long road of recovery.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:28 +0000

La Nueva Esperanza is a micro example of the countryÕs larger issues; all of the promise and potential but a legacy of poor management and faulty principals have left a long road of recovery.
view full-size image

As Argentina continues to deal with the effects of the 2001 economic crash, the cooperative movement has provided an alternative to traditional economic development.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:30 +0000

As Argentina continues to deal with the effects of the 2001 economic crash, the cooperative movement has provided an alternative to traditional economic development.
view full-size image

Women celebrate a birthday inside the factory dressing room. Despite social rifts due to differences of opinions on how to spend factory money, workers still interact on a very personal level, celebrating birthdays and spending weekends together.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:32 +0000

Women celebrate a birthday inside the factory dressing room. Despite social rifts due to differences of opinions on how to spend factory money, workers still interact on a very personal level, celebrating birthdays and spending weekends together.
view full-size image

Despite political and economic difficulties, most of ArgentinaÕs cooperatives have been successful. As the country continues to deal with economic problems, the cooperative movement aims to create a 'New Hope' for ArgentinaÕs working class.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:35 +0000

Despite political and economic difficulties, most of ArgentinaÕs cooperatives have been successful. As the country continues to deal with economic problems, the cooperative movement aims to create a 'New Hope' for ArgentinaÕs working class.
view full-size image