Will UE Workers Occupy Another Closed Factory?

[marmar]

from In These Times:



Will UE Workers Occupy Another Closed Factory?

Tuesday
Jan 18, 2011
7:35 am

By Kari Lydersen


As auction of machinery looms in Mass., feisty union's plan recalls Republic Windows and Doors occupation


When workers at Republic Windows and Doors occupied their Chicago plant two years ago, it was a surprise action that quickly attracted the attention of unionists, journalists and supporters worldwide.

Now 85 workers with the same union, the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), are planning a very similar action at an aircraft seals factory in Taunton, Mass., that closed in October. But this time they're giving advance notice in hopes of delaying the auction of machinery that workers want to keep in order to re-open the factory as a cooperative making aircraft seals in partnership with a large aerospace company.

That auction is scheduled for this Wednesday, January 19, at 10 a.m. On Friday, UE said it will try to stop the event from taking place. They have the unanimous support of the city council and other local, state and national elected officials. An independent feasibility study they’ve commissioned indicates a worker-run company could be successful.

Nonetheless the company, Washington state-based Esterline Technologies Inc., is planning to auction off the machinery. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/6865/ue_threatens_occupation_at_massachusetts_aircraft_seals_factory/

[Brickbat]

1. WTF? I recced it, and it's still at zero. Still, K&R for Solidarity.

[madrchsod]

2. there`s two now...can you say Argentina?

[marmar]

3. I guess the resident corporate water-carriers had their Wheaties today.

nt

[Brickbat]

4. Yeah -- I try to stay out of the un/rec issue, but this one really surprised me.

I'll just give it another kick here...

[upi402]

5. This is happening in Argentina

The people are fed up. The corporate media here has these huge stories blacked out. They fear this will happen more here.

Our "leaders" tell us to get out, protest - and make them enact change.
Well, the media covers a group of 24 bussed-in Teabaggers 24x7 -but ignore 100,00+ progressives rallying.
How much was the window factory take-over on? Not much- barely a mention.

We need real media here or fuck-all will change.

[Starry Messenger]

6. k&r

[blindpig]

7. That's what I call a union.

UE is da bomb, other union membership should be taking notes.

[socialist_n_TN]

9. It's coming pig, it's coming!........

I know you saw the Starbucks IWW thread. Unions are like the rest of us, getting more and more fed up with this fucked up system and getting more and more radical. Throw in the Tunisian thing that LOOKING like a worker's uprising and NOT a theocratic one and we have some momentum!

[socialist_n_TN]

8. YES!!!!! THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!............

The city should use "eminent domain" in court (even if it won't hold up long term) to delay this auction. This is what needs to happen at EVERY closed plant in the USA. Use worker's co-ops to DIRECTLY compete with these greedy capitalist pigs.

MAN! Between this news and the Wobblie news organizing Starbucks, this has been a GOOD labor news day!

[sarcasmo]

10. Kick. If the elite destroy the unions as they are trying too, we will be left with a two class

system.