WORKER OCCUPATION IN CHICAGO
Workers in Chicago have occupied a factory after being informed the company was closing the plant with immediate effect and laying them off without pay.
Around 250 employees of the firm, Republic Windows and Doors, are involved in the occupation, which began on Friday, Dec 5, the last day of the plant’s operation before its scheduled closing. The workers are all members of the United Electrical Workers Union and decided to take action after the company failed to provide the legally required 60-day notification of the plant’s closure and failed to attend an emergency meeting with the plant’s employees.
The workers have vowed to continue the occupation until they receive at least 60 days’ pay, while the firm’s owners claim they had to close because Bank of America refused to extend any more credit. Bank of America is one of the major US banks to have received billions of dollars in bailout money from the US government in recent months.
The workers involved, overwhelmingly Latin immigrants, have raised the banner of resistance to a bailout which thus far, both in the US and here in the UK, has been focused entirely on preserving the institutions which have plunged the global economy into its current crisis.
Interestingly, President-elect, Barack Obama, has issued a statement in support of the workers. At a news conference on Sunday, Dec 7, when asked about the occupation, he said: “When it comes to the situation here in Chicago with the workers who are asking for their benefits and payments they have earned, I think they are absolutely right.”
Obama’s statement in support of the workers’ demands, whilst not constituing support for the action they have taken, illustrates the dilemma he now faces in the midst of this economic crisis. He was swept to power largely by immigrants and workers like the ones occupying the plant in Chicago, and now he will have to increasingly take sides as the crisis deepens and the contradictions sharpen between the interests of the banks and the bossess, and the interests of the workers and the poor.
This is a hugely significant development, one that could very well mark a precedent for future actions by workers in the US and here at home as the recession begins to hit every layer of the economy. The radicalisation of workers will only increase as more and more lose their jobs and their homes, while those at the other end of the scale, the CEOs, corporate execs, and the rich sail off into the night with billions in taxpayers’ money.
A solidarity campaign has been organised in support of the Chicago workers. It goes without saying that all socialists, trade unionists, and progressives in this country should offer their full support for what is an exemplary action on behalf of workers everywhere.
Links:
Endorse at http://www.bailoutpeople.org/repubwindowendorse.shtml
List Local Action at http://www.bailoutpeople.org/repubwindowvolorgcent.shtml
Donate to Bail Out the People Movement at http://www.bailoutpeople.org/donate.shtml
Local Actions:
Chicago:
Sun, Dec 7, 10:30 AM Jessie Jackson and Rainbow PUSH deliver turkeys to workers occupying Republic Windows and Doors factory, 1333 N Hickory st. (near corner of Halsted and Division)
Monday, Dec 8th, 12 noon - Press Conference before UE workers meet with Bank of America and company executives. Supports welcome, bring food and monetary donations.
Tuesday, Dec 9th, 12 noon - Solidarity action at Bank of America, 231 S. LaSalle, Chicago, IL
Charlotte, NC:
Monday, Dec 8th, 12 Noon - Picket at Bank of American national Headquarters to support Republic workers. Corner of Trade St and Tryon in downtown Charlotte. Organized by UE local 150. call Dante Strobino at 919-539-2051 for more info
Detroit, MI:
Wednesday, Dec 10 12:00 noon - PROTEST RALLY, WEDS., DEC. 10, 12:00 NOON - BANK OF AMERICA, Guardian Building, Congress at Griswold, downtown Detroit
there is plenty more of stuff about the occupation on Indymedia Chicago and on the website of the UE
Comment by Entdinglichung — 8 December, 2008 @ 11:55 am
Fantastic. It’s possible to send messages of support via the website of the union. Best news I’ve heard all year.
Comment by PBi — 8 December, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
I was glad to hear Obama voice his support of these workers. I hope they get every bit of what they’re owed and I hope the owners of this company get properly disciplined or fined. When I first heard this story I could not understand that they thought they could even get away with this - but the fact is - they would have gotten away with it if these workers hadn’t stood up. Kudos to all of them.
Comment by Suggestions 4 Obama — 8 December, 2008 @ 5:20 pm
Report today from Socialist Worker USA:
Chicago factory occupied
Lee Sustar reports from Chicago on an occupation by workers who want what’s theirs from management and the Bank of America.
December 6, 2008
WORKERS OCCUPYING the Republic Windows & Doors factory slated for closure are vowing to remain in the Chicago plant until they win the $1.5 million in severance and vacation pay owed them by management.
In a tactic rarely used in the U.S. since the labor struggles of the 1930s, the workers, members of United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) Local 1110, refused to leave the plant on December 5, its last scheduled day of operation.
“We decided to do it because this is money that belongs to us,” said Maria Roman, who’s worked at the plant for eight years. “These are our rights.”
Word of the occupation spread quickly both among labor and immigrant rights activists–the overwhelming majority of the workers are Latinos. Seven local TV news stations showed up to do interviews and live reports, and a steady stream of activists arrived to bring donations of food and money and to plan solidarity actions.
Management claims that it can’t continue operations because its main creditor, Bank of America (BoA), refuses to make any more loans to the company. After workers picketed BoA headquarters December 3, bank officials agreed to sit down with Republic management and UE to discuss the matter at a December 5 meeting arranged by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill), said UE organizer Leah Fried.
BoA had said that it couldn’t discuss the matter with the union directly without written approval from Republic’s management. But Republic representatives failed to show up at the meeting, and plant managers prepared to close the doors for good–violating the federal WARN Act that requires 60 days notice of a plant closure.
The workers decided this couldn’t go unchallenged. “The company and Bank of America are throwing the ball to one another, and we’re in the middle,” said Vicente Rangel, a shop steward and former vice president of Local 1110.
Many workers had suspected the company was planning to go out of business–and perhaps restart operations elsewhere. Several said managers had removed both production and office equipment in recent days.
Furthermore, while inventory records indicated there were plenty of parts in the plant, workers on the production line found shortages. And the order books, while certainly down from the peak years of the housing boom, didn’t square with management’s claims of a total collapse. “Where did all those windows go?” one worker asked.
Workers were especially outraged that Bank of America, which recently received a bailout in taxpayer money, won’t provide credit to Republic. “They get $25 billion from the government, and won’t loan a few million to this company so workers can keep their jobs?” said Ricardo Caceres, who has worked at the plant for six years.
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THE MEMBERS of Local 1110 have a history of struggle. In 2004, they decertified the Central States Joint Board–a union notorious for corruption and sweetheart contracts with management–and brought in UE, a far more democratic organization.
In May of this year, Local 1110 mobilized for a contract by organizing a “practice” picket, and 70 workers used their lunch break to confront the boss with a petition listing their demands. The workers were able to turn back company’s effort to win major concessions and won solid pay increases.Now, management is trying to get revenge by pocketing money that belongs to the workers.
UE officials and workers acknowledge that it will be difficult to stop the plant from closing. But they’re determined to get the money owed to them–and they believe that by fighting, they can set an example for other workers facing layoffs and plant closures as the recession deepens.
Negotiations are set for Monday, December 8. Whatever happens, however, the workers have already sent a message to employers that if they violate workers rights and the law, they can expect a fight.
“This is a message to the workers of America,” said Vicente Rangel, the shop steward. “If we stand together, we will prevail until justice is done, and we get what we’re due.”
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Woolies tomorrow anyone?
Comment by Neil Williams — 8 December, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
Did this news remind anyone else of the factory occupations in Argentine at the start of the decade?
Comment by Martin Wisse — 9 December, 2008 @ 11:35 am
You guys might be interested to know that yesterday the Governor of Illinois ordered the state to boycott the Bank of America until it makes new lines of credit available to RW&D.
Today the Governor of Illinois was arrested by the FBI after wire-taps revealed him offering to sell Obama’s Senate seat, amongst many other corrupt practices.
The previous Governor of Illinois is presently serving a six year jail sentence for corruption.
This is the swamp that Obama has emerged from. This is the Democratic Party in Illinois.
Comment by Mr History — 9 December, 2008 @ 5:45 pm