Republic Workers Win! Plant Occupation Ends As Workers Vote Yes

Settlement
at Republic!
Plant occupation ends as workers vote yes!...

http://www.ueunion.org/

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Chicago workers vote to end sit-in at factory
By MICHAEL TARM, Associated Press Writer Michael Tarm, Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO – Workers have approved a $1.75 million agreement, ending a sit-in that lasted six days at a Chicago window and door factory.

U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez says Wednesday that each former Republic Windows & Door employee will get eight weeks' salary, all accrued vacation pay and two months' paid health care. He says it works out to about $7,000 for each worker.

The plant's owners, union leaders and Bank of America forged the agreement Wednesday.

Gutierrez says $1.75 million will go into an escrow account for the workers.

Bank of America spokeswoman Julie Westermann says the company loaned $1.35 million. Gutierrez says JPMorgan Chase & Co. added $400,000.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081211/ap_on_re_us/workers_takeover_46


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Chicago workers end window plant sit-in
The CNN Wire
December 10th, 2008

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) — Workers at the Republic Windows and Doors factory in Chicago have agreed to end a five-day sit-in after banks agreed to lend the failed company $1.75 million for their outstanding wages and benefits, their leaders announced Wednesday.

“The occupation is over,” said Armando Robles, president of the United Electrical Workers local 1110, which led the sit-in.

Workers launched the sit-in after Republic gave its employees three days notice of the lay-offs. Federal law requires 60 days notice or 60 days paid compensation for workers when they close plants.

http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/

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This is a huge victory for working people and the union movement.

'Yes' Vote at Republic: Workers Get Pay, Plant Occupation Ends
10 December, 2008
UE News Release
CHICAGO

After the conclusion of negotiations Wednesday evening, the membership of Local 1110, more than 200 workers, met in the plant cafeteria to hear and consider the tentative settlement that had been worked out by UE negotiators over the past three days.

The settlement was approved by a unanimous vote.

'Justice - We Did It!'

Following the vote, the UE members, led by Local President Armando Robles, marched out of the plant, chanting “We did it!” in English and Spanish.

Pres. Robles stepped to the microphones outside the front entrance to the plant, where a throng of reporters and cameras had been waiting. He announced the end of the occupation and said that justice had been achieved.

UE Western Region President Carl Rosen then described the negotiations, summarized the settlement agreement, and commented on the significance of the struggle and the achievement.

Pay, Health Care, Vacation Pay

The settlement totals $1.75million. It will provide the workers with:

eight weeks of pay they are owed under the federal WARN Act;
provided with two months of continued health coverage, and;
pay for all accrued and unused vacation.
JPMorgan Chase will provide $400,000 of the settlement, with the balance coming from Bank of America

Third Party Fund

Although the money will be provided as a loan to Republic Windows and Doors, it will go directly into a third-party fund whose sole purpose is to pay the workers what is owed them.

As the Local 1110 leaders characterized the settlement, “We fought to make them pay what they owe us, and we won.”

'Historic Victory'

UE Director of Organization Bob Kingsley spoke on behalf of the National Union, describing the outcome of the occupation as “a victory for workers everywhere,” and as “an historic victory for America’s labor movement.”

Kingsley went on to call the settlement “a win for all working men and women who face uncertainty, unfairness and job loss in a troubled economy.”

'The Window of Opportunity' Foundation
Kingsley then announced the creation of a new foundation, dedicated to reopening the plant. It will be initiated with seed money from the UE national union and the thousands of dollars of donations to the UE Local 1110 Solidarity Fund that have come in from across the country and around the world in just the past five days.

Melvin Maclin of Local 1110 announced the name of the foundation, which was chosen by the workers themselves: the Window of Opportunity Fund. Maclin said that the fund will be open to receive donations from all friends of the Republic workers and supporters of their struggle.

Rosen introduced U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, praising the congressman for his tireless work in behalf of the Republic workers and indispensible role in bringing about the settlement. Gutierrez spoke at some length, and then introduced David Rudis, Illinois State President, Bank of America. In a statement to reporters, Rep. Gutierrez said, "This money will only be used to pay the workers the benefits they are owed under the law, and it will not under any circumstance be used for corporate bonuses, luxury cars or any other perk for the owners of the plant."

http://www.ueunion.org/uenewsupdates.html?news=438