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BAUEN, day 42

From there, with the disputes overcome, the “holding on” was organized better, with tasks distributed according to people’s capacities and availability of time. The first thing that occurred to them was that all the available unused and wasted material could get a little money. They contacted a depository of recyclable materials to see what could be rescued.

There was lots of old folders, useless papers, irons that couldn’t be fixed, ruined mattresses, and other leftover furniture. Some people pulled the wire frames out the folders to salvage the iron, others baled paper and cardboard, which some went out to “cartonear” [sell cardboard for recycling] to generate income. Also, the MNER talked with the gov

BAUEN, day 42

From there, with the disputes overcome, the “holding on” was organized better, with tasks distributed according to people’s capacities and availability of time. The first thing that occurred to them was that all the available unused and wasted material could get a little money. They contacted a depository of recyclable materials to see what could be rescued.

There was lots of old folders, useless papers, irons that couldn’t be fixed, ruined mattresses, and other leftover furniture. Some people pulled the wire frames out the folders to salvage the iron, others baled paper and cardboard, which some went out to “cartonear” [sell cardboard for recycling] to generate income. Also, the MNER talked with the government, which let them access some subsidies. This provided them with minimal revenue and some emergency boxes of food.

The MNER continued to be a key actor in this period. Some of its members were permanently stationed in the hotel, advising and collaborating with the group. The other recovered businesses provided their solidarity and some resources, which the workers were short on. La Argentina, a bakery recovered by its workers, donated bread and other food left over from the day before for breakfasts and snacks. The recently formed cooperative La Cacerola[^42] also provided them with hot food on cold days. To cover themselves, the women sewed blankets. As winter set in, the unheated hotel was a freezer.

Around that time, some media outlets helped spread the word about the hotel’s problems, which helped them make contact with other organizations. Others, in contrast, like “Black” González Oro on Radio 10, attacked them, accusing them of being usurpers of private property, something other journalists of the hegemonic media would repeat frequently throughout the history of the cooperative.

ernment, which let them access some subsidies. This provided them with minimal revenue and some emergency boxes of food.

The MNER continued to be a key actor in this period. Some of its members were permanently stationed in the hotel, advising and collaborating with the group. The other recovered businesses provided their solidarity and some resources, which the workers were short on. La Argentina, a bakery recovered by its workers, donated bread and other food left over from the day before for breakfasts and snacks. The recently formed cooperative La Cacerola[^42] also provided them with hot food on cold days. To cover themselves, the women sewed blankets. As winter set in, the unheated hotel was a freezer.

Around that time, some media outlets helped spread the word about the hotel’s problems, which helped them make contact with other organizations. Others, in contrast, like “Black” González Oro on Radio 10, attacked them, accusing them of being usurpers of private property, something other journalists of the hegemonic media would repeat frequently throughout the history of the cooperative.

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