Ethnic Associations
**Click on images for larger version**
Due to rules, regulations and logistical factors, it is
important to note that most of the formal ethnic associations were based
in Comodoro port town, and 
not
in the individual company towns. Companies like Astra and YPF prioritized
work and family unity to such an extent that it envisionned ethnic and
political activities only outside the limits of the town, so as to encourage
workers to be part of a community without social distinctions. As a
result, community life for the typical immigrant worker became divided
into two levels: one in the town consisting of family and work-related
activities, and one in Comodoro Rivadavia for external political and
ethnic affliations.
Unsurprisingly, these ideals were not maintained; ethnic and political activities infiltrated into many aspects of daily life in the company towns. Despite close supervision, workers were still attracted to political literature, and newspapers that dealt with labor issues.
People of the same origins and culture and formed small clusters and would spend a lot of their free time together preserving and keeping their traditions alive. Ethnicity was an influencial factor in deciding which holidays to observe and how. It also affected traditions and customs concerning marriage and religion. Later, with the Argentinization policy, ethnic associations served to strengthen working class solidarity and stabilize the society in is change of European- Argentine ethnic proportions. Finally, by 1939, ethnicity played an even more important part in shaping society with respect to the repercussionsof World War II.
Astra's Associations
Astra's social organizations "reflected the ethnic
composition and the occupational status of the ethnic groups" (220)
"Social and cultural organizations were made up mainly of German
white collar workers who organized most activities in Astra. (219) "
The German Center, Deutscher Volksbunder, was a branch of the German
union during the 20's that organized 'Christmas parties in the party
room of the company, and celebrate some holidays'with other Germans
in the port town." "
Most other ethnic groups organized events primarily to
commemorate holidays from their homeland. (220) Within the smaller sized
ethnic associations such as the Spanish Committee, class divisions were
not confronted since the majority were not high ranking personnel. It
was only in the dominant German ethnic groups that class differences
were stressed. Workers from different backgrounds such as portuguese,
bulgarian and spanish descent, bonded with those of the same ethnicity
in order to "keep alive their ethnic differences" and maintain
their uniqueness in face of the other groups. It was only with Mosconi's
Argentinization plan that the various clusters of ethnic associations
united against the threat of the increasingly represented Argentine
race. (221)
 |
Herr Muller and Frau Jung Two native Germans share their
views on the ethnic makeup of the Astra company town, the effects
of World War II, and the relationships between ethnic groups. |
YPF's Organizations
"Formal ethnic institutions did not
exist in the national company town (except the German School Association
and the German Center), but informal ethnic activities were a
common occurrence" (217) These groups, such as the Greek Association,
the Czechoslovakian group, the Spanish Association and the German School
Association would have meetings in hotels, bars, and outdoor social
spaces. Otherwise, it was common for YPF workers to travel every now
and then to Comodoro for the larger-scale gatherings for the various
ethnic associations. 
The wave of strikes which began in 1917 convinced the
national company town that arriving immigrants "had to be disciplined
and assimilated into Argentine society." (223) Under the pretext
of celebrating the independence of Argentina (?), on July 9, 1929, the
company arranged public meetings in each neighborhood, intending to
"Argentinize the labor force...and foster the 'illusion' of a community
without class distinctions." However, it became apparent that the
goal was unrealistic since many existing activities were still reserved
for upper class workers only.
Political Organizations
Despite their long hours and hard labor, oil workers were not out of the political circles. Even though political action was considered a threat to the efficiency of the company towns, employees still sought out political literature when ever it was available, especially when labor issues was concerned. The creation of labor unions provoked stronger political action amongst the employees and eventually led to strikes for shorter work days and higher salaries.
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Joaquin Dias Guerreiro, Jose Tome, and Antonio Torres Three men from Astra recount how intense the political life often was during the Peron era. "They would disappear from the companies. That was the police. They fired them...for being communist, put them on the black plane and take them to Buenos Aires. There were people who never reappeared..." **Click image to view video clip** |
Conclusions
Since the majority of the population was immigrant during
the Mosconi period, "the ethnic activities caused tensions with
the Argentines" . (218) The Pro-Argentinism Association met to
"denounce what they viewed as an offense to the Argentine flag.
(218)"Ethnic tensions never reached the level of open aggression
but they differed according to the occupational status of the personnel
(219) While the "Argentines tried to affirm their nationality among
the foreigners… the multiethnic working population coexisted without
apparent ethnic tensions." As the Argentine population strengthened
the Europeans began to rely on their European background as their common
distinctive bond. (219) Nevertheless, reports from various company town
residents agree on the fact that Patagonia immigrant populations were
generally peaceful with little to no ethnic tension.