(December 6, 2008) Lee Sustar reports from Chicago on an occupation by workers who want what's theirs from management and the Bank of America.

WORKERS OCCUPYING the Republic Windows & Doors factory slated for closure
are vowing to remain in the Chicago plant until they win the $1.5 million in
severance and vacation pay owed them by management.

In a tactic rarely used in the U.S. since the labor struggles of the 1930s,
the workers, members of United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of
America (UE) Local 1110, refused to leave the plant on December 5, its last
scheduled day of operation.

"We decided to do it because this is money that belongs to us," said Maria
Roman, who's worked at the plant for eight years. "These are our rights."

Word of the occupation spread quickly both among labor and immigrant rights
activists--the overwhelming majority of the workers are Latinos. Seven local
TV news stations showed up to do interviews and live reports, and a steady
stream of activists arrived to bring donations of food and money and to plan
solidarity actions.

Management claims that it can't continue operations because its main
creditor, Bank of America (BoA), refuses to make any more loans to the
company. After workers picketed BoA headquarters December 3, bank officials
agreed to sit down with Republic management and UE to discuss the matter at
a December 5 meeting arranged by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill), said UE
organizer Leah Fried.

BoA had said that it couldn't discuss the matter with the union directly
without written approval from Republic's management. But Republic
representatives failed to show up at the meeting, and plant managers
prepared to close the doors for good--violating the federal WARN Act that
requires 60 days notice of a plant closure.

The workers decided this couldn't go unchallenged. "The company and Bank of
America are throwing the ball to one another, and we're in the middle," said
Vicente Rangel, a shop steward and former vice president of Local 1110.

Many workers had suspected the company was planning to go out of
business--and perhaps restart operations elsewhere. Several said managers
had removed both production and office equipment in recent days.

Furthermore, while inventory records indicated there were plenty of parts in
the plant, workers on the production line found shortages. And the order
books, while certainly down from the peak years of the housing boom, didn't
square with management's claims of a total collapse. "Where did all those
windows go?" one worker asked.

Workers were especially outraged that Bank of America, which recently
received a bailout in taxpayer money, won't provide credit to Republic.
"They get $25 billion from the government, and won't loan a few million to
this company so workers can keep their jobs?" said Ricardo Caceres, who has
worked at the plant for six years.

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THE MEMBERS of Local 1110 have a history of struggle. In 2004, they
decertified the Central States Joint Board--a union notorious for corruption
and sweetheart contracts with management--and brought in UE, a far more
democratic organization.

In May of this year, Local 1110 mobilized for a contract by organizing a
"practice" picket, and 70 workers used their lunch break to confront the
boss with a petition listing their demands. The workers were able to turn
back company's effort to win major concessions and won solid pay
increases.Now, management is trying to get revenge by pocketing money that
belongs to the workers.

UE officials and workers acknowledge that it will be difficult to stop the
plant from closing. But they're determined to get the money owed to
them--and they believe that by fighting, they can set an example for other
workers facing layoffs and plant closures as the recession deepens.

Negotiations are set for Monday, December 8. Whatever happens, however, the
workers have already sent a message to employers that if they violate
workers rights and the law, they can expect a fight.

"This is a message to the workers of America," said Vicente Rangel, the shop
steward. "If we stand together, we will prevail until justice is done, and
we get what we're due."