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Mike Ballard swillsqueal at yahoo.com.au
Sun Dec 7 00:37:25 PST 2008


Laid-off workers occupy factory in Chicago

CHICAGO - Laid-off workers at a Chicago factory have occupied the  building and are demanding assurances they'll get severance and  vacation pay owed to them.

About 200 employees of Republic Windows and Doors are staging the  sit-in in shifts after learning earlier this week the plant would close  Friday.

Leah Fried (LAY'-uh FREED'), an organizer with the United Electrical  Workers, says Republic failed to give 60 days' notice required by law.  And, she says, the company claims Bank of America is preventing it from  paying wages for those 60 days and earned vacation time.

Bank of America says it's not responsible for Republic's financial  obligations.

Chicago police spokeswoman Laura Kubiak says police are aware of the  situation, are patrolling the area and will respond, if called.

MORE: http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/84884/index.php Contacts: Leah Fried, United Electrical Workers, 773-550-3022 Mark Meinster, United Electrical Workers, 773-405-3022   

http://news.infoshop.org/trackback.php?id=20081206111016916 Chicago - Laid-Off Workers Occupy Factory! Solidarity Action TODAY! Authored by: WeedyLiver on Saturday, December 06 2008 @ 05:00 PM CST Just got back from the factory.

This may be disappointing to the various anti-capitalists who've showed  up to the factory expecting a revolution, but these workers are not  pushing for a takeover, nor are they trying to destroy the plant.  They're demanding the money the bosses owe them so they can support  their families, especially over the holidays.

Nevertheless, this factory occupation should be supported,  relationships should be made between activists and workers, and there  should be many many more occupations of workplaces, schools, apartment  buildings, public squares, etc., for reasons that any reader of this  website should be well aware. People are being asked to bring food to  the factory throughout the weekend, and there is talk of a protest  downtown at the Bank of America building) during the week.

Here's an update from Chicago Indymedia, with contact info for someone  from UE:

http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/84872/index.php

  A meeting has been scheduled with the Union, the company, Bank of  America and Congressman Gutierrez for Monday afternoon. If an agreement  is not reached by Monday evening, a rally is planned outside Bank of  America at 231 S. La Salle in downtown Chicago for noon on Tuesday.  Supporters are being encouraged to continue to come out to the factory  to demonstrate their support and to help the workers with donations of  food, bedding and cash. The factory is located at 1333 N. Hickory, on  Goose Island (north of Division St. between Elston & Halsted).


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