Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

In Chicago Meatpacking Struggle, Union Responds to Worker Criticism

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Labor Donate to DU
 
Omaha Steve Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-08-10 07:19 AM
Original message
In Chicago Meatpacking Struggle, Union Responds to Worker Criticism

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/6730/chicago_meatpacking_struggle_the_unions_side/

Tuesday Dec 7, 2010 10:49 am

By Kari Lydersen

The situation has strong parallels to the famous Republic Windows and Doors struggle exactly two years ago: several hundred largely immigrant workers out of a job just before the holidays, after their Chicago plant closed suddenly without giving them vacation or severance pay they were due…and not long after the plant had received significant investment meant to help it expand. As at Republic WIndows, the closure violated the WARN Act mandating workers get 60 days notice or 60 days severance pay in the event of a plant closing.

But the former employees of the Protein Solutions meatpacking plant on Chicago’s southwest side have not had a victory like the Republic Windows workers. (See my previous blog on the situation here.) The union representing them, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1546, is pursuing WARN Act compensation for the workers and is asking Protein Solutions workers to visit the union hall this Friday (Dec. 10) to fill out their claims.

Shortly after the closing, the union brokered a meeting between the company and a bank officer in hopes of securing financing to keep the plant open or at least pay the workers their due – as Bank of America and Chase did after the factory occupation at Republic Windows. But UFCW Local 1546 spokesman Jeff Weiss said the company owner didn’t show for the meeting, “leaving our president and the bank standing twiddling their thumbs.”

Now the company is in bankruptcy, and Weiss said the union’s legal counsel is involved in “effects bargaining” to get the workers the money they’re due. The amount they are able to recoup depends in part on what assets the company has left and how the bankruptcy court decides to divvy them up—workers are usually among the last to get paid when a company goes out of business, as they are "unsecured creditors" while financial institutions and other "secured creditors" are first in line for payment.

FULL story at link.



Refresh | +1 Recommendations Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Labor Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC