Angry laid-off workers occupy factory in Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) — Workers who got three days' notice their factory was shutting its doors have occupied the building and say they won't go home without assurances they'll get severance and vacation pay they say they are owed.
About 200 union workers occupied the Republic Windows and Doors plant in shifts Saturday while union leaders outside criticized a Wall Street bailout they say is leaving laborers behind.
Republic said it was closing its doors as a result of Bank of America cutting its credit line.
Bank of America and their billions from Washington.
And speaking of solidarity :
After spending much of Friday chatting over pizza and coffee, the plant's 250 union members organized themselves into three shifts to keep the building occupied until a settlement is reached.
"We're doing this for the other working people in the country," said machine operator Ron Bender, who had worked for the company for 14 years.
"What's happened to us can happen to anyone - they could just close up and put you out and give you no severance pay."
The sit-in is a excellent idea, because it will prevent the assets of the factory from being moved in the middle of the night.
