On the eve of International Cooperative Year 2012, a film has been made on the success of cooperative spirit on more or less realistic theme in Argentina. The feature movie is to be premiered in September.
It is the story of a group of unemployed workers who try the cooperative way. One can visit to see the film at : www.indargentina-film.com.ar.Néstor Sánchez Sotelo is the Producer of the movie.
The economic crisis caused the bankruptcy of many companies. Arlumar is a autoparts factory. Its workers are reluctant to lose their only livelihood. Juan (Carlos Portaluppi) is one of those employees who do not charge his salary for several months ago. His pregnant wife and their mounting debts reduce their life to a burden.
Slowly as if they were awakening from a nightmare, Juan and his colleagues begin to organize themselves in order to reopen the factory. The gears spin again, the machines are back to work. A group of workers have now their future in their own hands.
In Argentina there are now more than 300 recuperated enterprises that are operating as cooperatives and employ more than 20,000 people.
Thanks to their example and constant struggle, in June 2011 a reform was enacted that authorizes work cooperatives to take over the company once it has filed for bankruptcy.
There are around 2,000 companies still waiting to be reopened that are in the bankruptcy process.
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives.
