Laid-off workers won't leave until they get their money

[lame54]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1317339,CST-NWS-windows06.article

Laid-off workers won't leave until they get their money
GOOSE ISLAND | Bank of America 'completely shameless,' union says

December 6, 2008
About 200 laid-off workers at the Republic Windows & Doors factory remained camped out in the huge building Friday night -- refusing to leave the Goose Island factory without assurance of vacation and severance pay Republic owes them.

They came and went freely, with no police in sight.

They occupied the factory and warehouse after company officials didn't show at negotiations brokered by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez between the company and its bank.

Republic announced the shutdown Tuesday, saying doors would close Friday as a result of Bank of America cutting its credit line.

Union officials said the company failed to give the 60 days' notice required by federal law and that the bank barred the company from paying for the 60-day period or for vacation time earned by employees.

"It's completely shameless that Bank of America took billions in taxpayer dollars and cuts off credit to a company we believe could have stayed in business," United Electrical Workers union official Leah Fried said.

Bank of America issued a statement saying it was not responsible for Republic's incurred obligations.

Said 20-year employee Juan Cortez: "I just want them to pay me for the time I've put into this company."

[Donnachaidh]

1. GOOD for them!

Stay STRONG -- and get what you're entitled to!

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. K&R

[LiberalFighter]

3. They need to break up the banks and credit card companies. Regionalize them.

[tbyg52]

11. They need to break up all big corporations. "Too big to fail" is too big to exist. nt

[Uben]

4. Borrow money against the facility, and pay the workers

Sell it to the highest bidder, pay the workers, and pay the bank. That's what you do. It's not the people who invest money in Bank of America to pay these workers, it's the people who own and run the company. Fuck em! They should lose every dime they have.

[sufrommich]

5. How does a bank bar a company from honoring it's

contract with it's workers? Is that even legal?

[Uben]

9. Uh, it's not the bank

The investors the bank represents are not the ones who made the company default. Place the blame where it is due, directly on those running the company! They can sell assets to pay the workers. Why make the banks risk giving money to a company in default? You have to realize these companies have been living off investors money, and they have been doing a terrible job of managing. Would you want to loan them more money if it was coming out of your 401K? Well, it is!

[NOW tense]

6. This is a full on war on workers.

Banks get money to horde for themselves so they can buy up more capital. We give the middle finger to the people that actually drive the economy. The next thing will be states saying they are bankrupt and they will refuse to pay teachers their salaries and will want them to renegotiate their contracts without unions.

[sarcasmo]

10. You are correct, it's going to be a fit and this may be the start of that fight.

[Greyhound]

7. Glad to see B of A is as stupidly vicious as ever. With any luck, they

escalate this into a real donnybrook and fire up public sentiment against them.

[robinlynne]

8. Hello Congress!!!!!!! Wake Up!