27/05/2010
Venezuelan Socialist United Party activists in UK tour

Venezuelan Socialist United Party (PSUV) members Katy Jaimes and Elias Chacon spoke at an event organised by Hands Off Venezuela to build solidarity with the Bolivarian revolution and the movement of occupied factories in Venezuela.

Chacon explained that when employers shut down factories and facilities, the workers set up workers' councils to keep the business going. Jaimes cited the case of the Gotcha workers, a group of female textile workers in Aragua.  The owner closed down the factory and abandoned production leaving the women workers without any compensation, so they were forced to take over the installations.

"They are now producing and selling directly to the communities, which is a massive step forward," said Jaimes. "They have shown that the workers can produce without bosses."  

The PSUV members, who are currently on a tour around Britain, underlined that workers who occupy factories "do not want to become owners or bosses themselves".  Instead they are calling for "socialist production on collective basis and for the collective well-being".

Excerpts taken from the Morning Star

Press Unit of the Venezuelan Embassy in London