Making a co-operative, making a revolution

How was the co-operative set up?
Nora Castañeda gave us the Women's Bank loan. Here in the Ministry of the Environment we were working for a private company called Superlink, that was cheating us. So we all decided to take action because they owed us money. There was a strike and that's when we set up the cleaning co-operative, "Mano Amiga" [Friendly Hand]: 8 men and 54 women. 

How much were you paid then, and what do you get now? 
Before, we were exploited. There was just one girl per floor, now there are two. We used to be paid 144,000 bolivares, and now it's 300,000 a month.

Double, that is, for half the work? 
Yes.

What did you do on 13 April 2002?
At the time of the coup we were all here at the ministry with our dream shattered. We thought it was all over. A group of us went to Miraflores. I went to Fuerte Tiuna with a group from Valle, to demand to see Chávez, because he was kidnapped, he was held hostage. We asked to see him, to speak to him, to see if he was alright. My compañeras were at Miraflores until he came back. Imagine what it was like when we saw the President come back, how glad we were. 

So it was you who saved Chávez and the revolution, you and the millions of 
other people who were there? 
Yes, yes! . . . Supporting the revolution!

And the Bolivarian Circles?
The Bolivarian Circles are organising on community problems - housing, loans, public services, schools - we're sorting them out and making them Bolivarian - problems of land . . .There are many people who want to leave Caracas. They're starting to organise to see how they can leave. They're heading for the interior with loans from the banks, to set up rural co-operatives and work the land. The Circles are for discussing things, to learn more and to educate yourself. You see? 

Lots of people are in the Tupamaros: the bikers' circle. When there's a march or when a problem comes up, like in December with the strikes, some of them had to go to defend the PDVSA [national oil industry] buildings. That's where the guys went, they needed men's muscle more there because those people were some really bloodthirsty "golpistas". Of course we women were there as well, because for years now women in this country have shown how strong we are. We're single mothers, we've been both mother and father to our children. Many compañeras have brought up children on their own. They've done well with them, right? And here they are, many past retirement age who should be at home taking it easy. But they're still here, working for the struggle.

In Venezuela women have been prominent, because we're a bit woman and a bit man. So they won't crush us. There's not going to be some "golpista" coming along like that joker who came and thought we women wouldn't come out to put him in his place. No, we'll all come out. 

Were you involved in the schools when the opposition closed them?
Yes, many of us. The mothers and representatives took over the schools, and gave lessons themselves because a lot of the teachers and administrators didn't want to teach. That's how people dealt with the strike in December. In Miranda State there's a "golpista" governor who closed various schools, and the teachers who are with him refuse point blank to teach. They won't do it. That's a problem we have with many of the governors and mayors, they won't do what they're supposed to do. 

How will you get rid of them? 
Well! We'll put a referendum on them!

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