Of course, it did not stop building its collective management every day. Nor did it stop building support and social strength for its demands, even as it pushed for new expropriation bills in Congress. One significant milestone in that search was the event in which it honored the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo by naming the main auditorium of the hotel after them, on April 17th, 2012. Human-rights organizations had constantly supported the workers by participating in their demonstrations, showing solidarity, and committing themselves in various ways. The cooperative recognized that support and added the significant presence of the Grandmothers to its history.
The act of renaming the hall known until then simply as the Auditorium, a first-floor theater with 350 seats, was attended by Estela de Carlotto and other members of the group. Meanwhile, the old BANADE case was under review in the Ministry of Economy, and the workers were hoping for a intervention from the nation-State that would alleviate the pressure on them.
The date of the event with the Grandmothers was not chosen at random. Two days later, April 19, 2012, another demonstration was held outside Paula Hualde’s court, where a hearing had been convened to bring Mercoteles and the cooperative face to face, trying to reach an impossible agreement.1 With all other options exhausted, right up the highest court, the judge again found the file in her hands. All this, as might be expected, added tension to the daily work in the hotel. Assemblies were held, and calls were made for solidarity from self-managed businesses, labor unions, and politicians, and the result was a big rally outside the court, at the corner of Marcelo T. de Alvear and Callao Avenue, a few blocks from the BAUEN.
- “An appointment with the judge about the case,” Página/12, 8 April 2012. Recovered from https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elpais/1-191385-2012-04-08.html↩