Hartmarx workers declare victory (4,000 jobs saved)

Source: PWW.ORG

Pepe Lozano

DES PLAINES, Ill. — In an unprecedented display of hope, struggle and unity, more than 600 workers at the Hart Schaffner & Marx factory here joined with union leaders and elected officials in a rally June 29 to celebrate a major victory that will save nearly 4,000 jobs nationwide and keep the Chicago-based company open for business.

“I feel great,” said Ruby Sims, president of Local 39 of Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, which represents the Hartmarx workers. Sims has worked at Hartmarx for 32 years. “We finally got a buyer approved by a judge and now we will be able to work and keep our jobs,” she said.

“Now we can hold our heads high because there is a light at the end of the tunnel, especially for people who have been working here for decades,” she said. “This factory is like home away from home to many of us. Workers everywhere need to be organized and during times like these it’s good to know your brothers and sisters in the union got your back.”

Joe Scalise, originally from Italy, is president of Workers United Local 61 and has been employed at Hartmarx for 42 years. “The last six months have been very scary for many of us here,” he said. “Everybody was worried about losing their jobs, but now we are all very happy and excited.” Scalise continued, “Now we can go back to our members and let them know that our jobs are secure. When we stick together and stand behind our union and fight, we know we can achieve victory.”


Read more: http://transitional.pww.org/article/view/16188/

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Wells Fargo wanted to part it out piece by piece and end all the jobs.

http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S1002583.shtml?cat=566

and another:

http://www.suntimes.com/business/1643895,hartmarx-execs-resign-062909.article

Please remember, I don't make the rules here. :) Take it up with Skinner.

Meanwhile, I'm glad to hear that the Hartmarx workers have a reprieve. The buyers are foreign turnaround specialists...they will certainly look for inefficiencies in the operation and tepid brands in the line-up, and cut whatever caused the firm to lose money and end up in bankruptcy.

I have five or six Hickey-Freeman/H. Freeman suits and sports coats hanging in my closet. Every one of them shows high-quality workmanship. I sincerely hope the company can return to sustained profitability so that I may enjoy wearing their products for many years to come.

to be enforcing them. ;-)

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;)

I could notfind the exact quote quickly enough to suit me, but Obama mentioned when he was campaigning that he buys several HS&M suits that are identical (to each other) and they last him a long time. He's worn them on all the important occasions, too.

And it helps keep jobs here.

maybe we could all pitch in and buy him a couple a shirts that aren't white. and you know people are sending him ties, but he still wears that blue thing every day.
meanwhile michelle has to look gorgeous every day. this is why we still have not reached parity.