Re: [Marxism] Chicago workers to be paid for 60 days, vacations

["Dayne Goodwin" <daynegoodwin@xxxxxxxxx>]

Chicago workers end sit-in at closed factory

By MICHAEL TARM

CHICAGO (AP) — Jubilant workers, cheering and chanting "Yes We Can,"
celebrated outside a Chicago factory after approving a $1.75 million
agreement to end their six-day sit-in, which had become a nationwide symbol
of the plight of labor.

Republic Windows & Doors, union leaders and Bank of America reached the deal
Wednesday evening. Workers carrying sleeping bags left the North Side
factory within hours.

About 200 of 240 laid-off workers began their sit-in last week after
Republic gave them just three days' notice the plant was closing. The
workers had argued that Republic violated federal law because employees were
not given 60 days' notice. They vowed to stay until they received assurances
they would get severance and accrued vacation pay.

Each former Republic employee will get eight weeks' salary, all accrued
vacation pay and two months' paid health care, said U.S. Rep. Luis
Gutierrez, who helped broker the deal. He said it works out to about $7,000
apiece.

"We lost the jobs but we got something," said Lalo Munoz, who worked at the
plant for 24 years.

Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat, said $1.75 million will go into an escrow
account for the workers, $1.35 million of which came from Bank of America in
the form of a loan to Republic.

"Although we are a lender with no obligation to pay Republic's employees or
make additional loans to Republic, we agreed to extend an additional loan to
be used exclusively to pay its employees," David Rudis, the bank's Illinois
president, said in a statement.

New York-based JPMorgan Chase & Co. pledged $400,000 to use strictly for the
protesting employees, Gutierrez said.

The workers are "very, very satisfied" with the agreement, said Mark
Meinster of the United Electrical Workers union, which represents the
employees.

"Hopefully this is an example for workers across the country that when
things like this happen, you can step up, you can speak out, and you can
win," he said.

Lawmakers earlier criticized Bank of America for cutting off funds to the
plant after it exhausted its credit line even though the Charlotte,
N.C.-based bank itself received $25 billion from the government's financial
bailout package. The bank was given that money so it could provide credit to
companies like Republic that employ workers, Meinster said.

"We're hopeful the banks got that message," he said. "My sense is it's going
to take a lot more."

Around 100 supporters of the workers gathered Wednesday in downtown Chicago
where negotiators were meeting, some beating drums and others chanting:
"They got bailed out. We got sold out."

"This money is not, under any circumstance, to be used for corporate
bonuses, luxury cars or any other perk for the owners of the plant,"
Gutierrez said in a statement.

Republic officials did not return messages on Wednesday from The Associated
Press. Messages left seeking further details from JPMorgan Chase were also
not returned.

Rudis said Republic is "unable to operate profitably." Over the past two
years, the factory lost $10 million while borrowing the maximum amount
possible under its agreement with Bank of America, the company said.

*Associated Press writer Rupa Shenoy and videographer Raza Siddiqui
contributed to this report.*
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ildwrFjwHYjvJPX2edZgBnNb8EEQD950B6K00


On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 5:20 PM, Joaquin Bustelo <jbustelo@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
> Union employees who have staged sit-in protests at an Illinois door-and-
> window factory will receive the compensation required under state law,
> Attorney General Lisa Madigan said.
>
> Under the agreement reached late Wednesday afternoon, more than 200
> unionized employees of Republic Windows & Doors will receive pay for an
> additional 60 days. They also will receive vacation pay.
>
>
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