Betty – Sit-In Continues at Chicago Window Plant
Topic(s): Corporate Crime | Comments Off on Betty – Sit-In Continues at Chicago Window PlantHi Friends,
Some of you may already have read/heard about this worker factory occupation
in Chicago. These kind of actions will need to continue until we get
justice during this time of economic crisis for all the working people
affected by the outrageous actions of those at the top. Be sure to read the
story below and I encourage you to sign the petition.
This link takes you to a petition to support the workers:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/bankofamerica
—–Original Message—–
Subject: All out to Support Sit-Down Strike this weekend in Chicago
UE workers’ Sit-In Continues at Chicago Window Plant. They need our
support any time this weekend.
For more information contact Mark Meinster at 773-405-3022
1333 N. Hickory, Goose Island Chicago. Come support the action.
Continuing through the weekend.
Union officials announced this afternoon that Bank of America has
agreed to meet with them to discuss workers concerns about the closing
of Republic Windows and Doors.
“They are ready to meet with the company and the union and a
representative from Luis Gutierrez’s office in order to try to come to
some kind of resolution with the situation,” says Mark Meinster of the
United Electrical Workers, which represents the workers. “Everybody is
trying to get a meeting today.”
However, bank officials will only meet if Republic agrees to sign a
waiver of confidentiality. Up until this point, Bank of America
spokespeople have declined to comment on the situation because of the
confidentiality agreement.
Workers are currently staging a sit-in at the company. They say they
won’t leave until they receive pay for vacation time they’ve earned,
plus the 60 days pay due to them under the federal WARN Act. Meinster
says the money owed the workers totals between $1 and 2 million.
Workers were also informed this morning by the company that their
health insurance, which they were told would run until Dec. 15, was
cut off last night. Workers say the company told them it was Bank of
America’s decision to end the insurance.
“People are really angry,” says Melvin Maclin, worker and vice
president of the local union. “A lot of people were hoping to go to
the doctor one more time before the insurance was cut off, to get the
medicines they need, but now they won’t be able to.”
Around 200 workers are gathered at the company today. Maclin says he
thinks the sit in may last all day and into the night, or end with the
company removing workers by force.
Earlier today, union officials said the company had told them boot the
news media from the plant, threatening that the workers would not
receive their paychecks if reporters remained. Workers were given
their paychecks for last week around noon. Paychecks for this week
will come out next Friday.
Republic’s Cheif Operating Officer, Barry Dubin, did not respond to
Daily News requests for comment.
U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-7, is doing all he can to arrange a
meeting between all parties, according to a spokesman in his office.