Laid-off Workers Occupy Factory In Chicago, Demand Severance Pay!

[Better Believe It]

Idled workers occupy factory in Chicago
By RUPA SHENOY, Associated Press
December 6, 2008

CHICAGO – Workers laid off from their jobs at a factory have occupied the building and are demanding assurances they'll get severance and vacation pay that they say they are owed. About 200 employees of Republic Windows and Doors began their sit-in Friday, the last scheduled day of the plant's operation.

Leah Fried, an organizer with the United Electrical Workers, said the Chicago-based vinyl window manufacturer failed to give 60 days' notice required by law before shutting down.

Workers also were angered when company officials didn't show up for a meeting Friday that had been arranged by U.S. Rep Luis Gutierrez, a Chicago Democrat, she said.

"We're doing something we haven't since the 1930s, so we're trying to make it work," Fried said.

Representatives of Republic Windows did not immediately respond Saturday to calls and e-mails seeking comment.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081206/ap_on_re_us/workers_takeover

[glowing]

1. If they didn't expect to pay, they shouldn't have asked them to work.

[roguevalley]

21. I hope this is the start of more actions. People can't be kicked around.

[lib_wit_it]

2. Oh, sorry, but our private jets, obscenely ginormous salaries, and golden parachutes cost more than

we'd projected. So, you know, fuck you workers. Welcome back to the 1930s.

[ThatsMyBarack]

3. I saw this on the local news last night.

How come Republic is closing?

[GReedDiamond]

6. Just a guess , but if they are dependent...

...on the home construction industry (they are called "Republic WINDOWS") as a market for their products, and new home construction is way off, due to a growing inventory of existing unsold homes on the real estate market, which is in turn due to the criminality of the financial sector, then I suppose you can see why they ceased operations.

But I strongly suspect the Executives at Republic knew their numbers were off a long time back, and could have followed the proper protocols for going out of business, but they decided it would be easier to screw their workers than to conduct their business in the legally proscribed manner.

They should probably be called Republican Windows.

[Hannah Bell]

14. bank of america shut down their credit line.

[ColbertWatcher]

22. Yes, by using the most convoluted interpretation of their agreement with Republic. n/t

[firedupdem]

4. Good for them!

I hope they get their money! I could only imagine what would happen to my family if my husbands company just shut their doors without notice! People are only making it one check at a time now! This shit pisses me off! I bet the big wigs at the company got everything they needed before leaving!

:mad:

[Omaha Steve]

5. Power to the workers

K&R!

[Better Believe It]

7. News Of Factory Occupation Spreads!

Laid-off workers occupy Chicago factory
'We're doing something we haven't since the 1930s,' labor organizer says
MSNBC

CHICAGO - Workers laid off from their jobs at a factory have occupied the building and are demanding assurances they'll get severance and vacation pay that they say they are owed.

About 200 employees of Republic Windows and Doors began their sit-in Friday, the last scheduled day of the plant's operation.

“I have to stay,” Raul Flores told a local news organization. “Not just for me. For my family. For my children.”

In a memo to the union, obtained by the business journal, Republic CEO Rich Gillman said the company had "no choice but to shut our doors."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28084616



Laid off workers peer through the doors of the their abruptly shuttered factory where they staged a sit-in on December 5, 2008 demanding that the bank which cut off credit to the Chicago company free up some financing so they can be paid their final wages. The 250 unionized workers planned to camp out at the factory until a settlement is reached with Republic Windows & Doors and Bank of America.

Shouldn't some of that taxpayer Wall Street "bailout" money cover it?

[Skidmore]

9. We need more of this type of worker action.

A reminder to the politicians and management that no one makes money without the worker.

[Better Believe It]

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

Laid-off workers won't leave until they get their money
Chicago Sun-Times
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 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.

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

[Better Believe It]

10. Republic Windows, workers at odds over closing

Republic Windows, workers at odds over closing
Chicago Business
December 6, 2008

Crain's) — Disgruntled union workers for Republic Windows & Doors Inc. met Friday with company management, a congressman and representatives of Bank of America in an attempt to settle a dispute over the manufacturer’s abrupt closing.

Members of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Local 1110 hold Bank of America responsible for the demise of the Chicago-based vinyl window manufacturer. They also claim that the bank told Republic officials to forgo severance payments, which the union believes members are owed.

A spokeswoman for Bank of America said the bank is not responsible for Republic's decision.

Union members have refused to leave Republic’s factory at 1333 N. Hickory St. on Friday until they receive severance and vacation pay. Earlier this week, they picketed Bank of America’s offices at 231 S. LaSalle St.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=32111

[Cleita]

11. And so the revolution begins.

I hope we see a lot more of this until our elected representatives roll up their sleeves and get to work making this a better country for the working person, not the corporate overlords.

[Better Believe It]

12. You can see a TV news video on this story at:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x247799

[malaise]

13. I didn't see your thread

and started another one about this
K & R

[Peace Patriot]

15. K&R! Kudos and laurel wreaths to these noble workers--the backbone of America! nt

[spoony]

23. Well put!

Bravo to these workers who won't accept any more unfair treatment!

[Tinksrival]

16. I had Republic windows put in two years ago

Best thing I ever did to my house. I love these windows. Kudos to those who made them. They are a quality product.
I blame fucking Bush for all this shit. There goes my warranty on the windows. Hope the workers get something though.

[whathehell]

17. Good for them!

I hope this kind of resistance spreads to other workers in similar situations.

[Downtown Hound]

18. Now this is how you do it!

Good on them workers. Corporate America gets away with the screwing that it does because people usually just lie down and take it. No more multi-million dollar bonuses for CEO's. They're going to start paying us decent wages or we're gonna shut 'em down.

[Fleshdancer]

19. Makes me wish I lived in Chicago

I would be there in a heartbeat to lend my support. Can anyone in Chicago tell me how the city is reacting to this?

[Itchinjim]

20. A Sit Down Strike? Ok, it really is a depression.

When they smile and say, no raise in pay,
Sit down! Sit down!
When you want the boss to come across,
Sit down! Sit down!
-- Sit-down strikers' song of the 1930s

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

24. Has the company filed for bankruptcy?

If not, then the company probably doesn't have a leg to stand on regarding severance. If they have, then unfortunately the severance payment might wind up being dealt with in bankruptcy court. I'm not sure what happens at that point, but AFAIK it's not a guaranteed thing that they'll get their severance, or all of it anyway.