You've likely already heard about the workers in Chicago who are occupying their factory. The Republic Windows and Doors management decided to close their production plant but owes over 1 million dollars in severance and vacation pay to the work force. They are in violation of the law. Management says that the Bank of America won't give them a loan. They gave the workers three days notice and closed up shop.The 300 unionized workers have occupied the building since Friday and plan to camp out at the factory until a settlement is reached. The rich clowns at Bank of America got $25 billion in the recent taxpayer bailout, but is refusing loans to the company. Supposedly the bailout to the banks was to help them make loans to keep businesses going and people in jobs. But it appears that Bank of America wants to hoard the cash. The workers are left hanging out to dry.
Jesse Jackson has joined the workers and over the weekend helped bring them food. Chicago-area Congresspersons Jan Schakowsky and Luis Gutierrez (both strong progressives) have also come out to the factory to offer support for the workers. Gutierrez tried to organize a meeting between the company and the union but the company didn't show. Another try for a meeting is to happen today.
Workers all across America should occupy their production facilities, take collective ownership, and take their future into their own hands. Why can't auto workers occupy their plants and demand that they build rail systems and fuel efficient cars? Why can't workers demand that tax breaks for the rich and corporate powers be cancelled so that money is available to create/sustain needed jobs across the nation? How can the banks be handed truckloads of our cash with no demands for them to help struggling communities?
The big difference to me between today and the "Great Depression" is that we have virtually no industry in this country this time around. There is little to fall back on. We are a nation of paper shufflers and data entry specialists.
This is the moment in our history to stand up and raise your voice - stand in solidarity with those who are being locked out. You might be next.
Help light and sustain the fires of resistance to oligarchy.
The Democrats are now fully in control of all government. Put some heat on them. Make demands now.
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.
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