Laid-Off Workers' Sit-in Starts Movement

Demonstration Began Friday; Former Employees Say They Deserve Severance, Vacation Pay

(CBS/AP)  Chicago workers in the third day of a sit-in on the floor of their former workplace peered through the windows of a door, amazed by a mix of supporters, politicians and journalists who packed a foyer outside.

"We never expected this," said Melvin Maclin, a factory employee and vice president of the local union that represents the workers. "We expected to go to jail."

The 200 workers demanding severance and vacation pay have become a national symbol for thousands of employees laid off nationwide as the economy continues to sour. They occupied the plant of their former employer, Republic Windows and Doors, after the company abruptly fired them last week.

"There is one thing that is absolutely clear," U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, a Chicago Democrat, told CBS Station WBBM. "They're owed 75 days of pay. They're owed their vacation time, and they're owed their fringe benefits - including healthcare benefits - during those 75 days."

Gutierrez added that Republic's abrupt decision to shut down is suspicious. He said he has a "very strong belief" that Republic is simply "recapitalizing and reorganizing its production in another state," and called on the Illinois Department of Labor to investigate, according to WBBM.

At a news conference Sunday, President-elect Barack Obama said Republic should follow through on its commitments to its workers.

"The workers who are asking for the benefits and payments that they have earned, I think they're absolutely right and understand that what's happening to them is reflective of what's happening across this economy," Obama said.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson delivered turkeys to the workers, pledging the support of his Chicago-based civil rights group, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

"These workers deserve their wages, deserve fair notice, deserve health security," Jackson said. "This may be the beginning of long struggle of worker resistance finally."

Leah Fried, an organizer for the United Electrical Workers union that represents the workers, said the company told the union that its bank has canceled its financing. Fried said the company can't pay its 300 employees because its creditor, Charlotte, N.C.-based Bank of America, won't let them. Crain's Chicago Business reported that Republic Windows' monthly sales had fallen to $2.9 million from $4 million during the past month. In a memo to the union, obtained by the business journal, Republic CEO Rich Gillman said the company had "no choice but to shut our doors."

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Click to see CBS Affiliate WBBM's coverage of the sit-in.

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"Bank of America received $25 billion from the government's financial bailout package. The company said in a statement Saturday that it isn't responsible for Republic's financial obligations to its employees.

"We're angry, we're frustrated. At this point we just don't know which end is up," fired Republic worker Maclin told WBBM. "We feel mistreated." Maclin said that workers were remaining in the factory not only to make a point, but also to protect the company's remaining assets.

Meanwhile, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said in a news release late Sunday that she had representatives at the factory investigating the closure.

"I am extremely concerned with the actions of this company, which are having a significant impact on employees and their families," Madigan said.

Left, worker Luis Lira sits in the lobby at the Republic Windows and Doors factory on Saturday, Dec. 6.

One of the factory's workers, Silvia Mazon, said in Spanish that she needs the money owed to her for an $1,800 monthly house payment. The 40-year-old from Cicero said she has enough money saved to survive for one month.

"We're making history," she said.

Patrick Tyrrell, 22, of Chicago, visited the workers Saturday and returned the next day with home-cooked beans, rice, chicken and soup. Tyrrell said he felt he wanted to help, in part, because his grandfather was an electrical union member.

"This is an impressive historical event," he said.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat, called it the start of a movement. "This story has resonated around the world," she said.

[verderosso]

Hats off to these workers! To help financially to take over this company, every decent working man and woman should go to www.ueunion.org and make a donation. If the Argentinian workers can do it so can we!

[dangyankee69]

Trickle Down Economics was always a lie! Voodoo Ecomomics. The Government takes $25 Billion and gives it to Bank of America so they can afford to not do this kind of thing. They take the money, pay the fat cats their salaries, pay the debt on the money they borrowed to buy the jets and town cars and box seats that make it enjoyable to be rich and then there''s no money to pass along to Republic Windows to forgive the debt they can''t afford (which is what we needed them to be able to do in the first place). FUBAR!

[winslowe1]

It should surprise no one that Obama agrees with Jackson.

Posted by Winslowe1 at 09:17 AM : Dec 08, 2008

What does THAT mean? Don''t you agree with these workers? Don''t YOU feel they have a right to the REQUIREMENTS contained in their contract and the LAW? What kind of American are you?

Posted by irmcvet971 at 09:19 AM : Dec 08, 2008

If you could understand what you read, you would know there is nothing in my post to indicate my opinion of the workers one way or the other.

[frankie2fing]

What the h3ll is wrong with people today? It used to be if you worked hard and helped the company to be profitable, then the company took care of you. Of course, then the ''company'' was the owner and he employed the township - his neighbors. Along came the industrial revolution and the corporations became greedy and *** on the workers. Unions formed to protect the workers and get them fair pay and benefits (YOU KNOW, WACKO LIBERAL THINGS LIKE 40 HOUR WEEK, CHILD LABOR LAWS, SICK & VACATION PAY, SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT: Things YOU enjoy to this date). After some resistance, company got the idea that a happy employee just worked better.
But your god, reagan, changed everything. He told corporations that the only thing to do is to make HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY! And to do that, organized labor must go, after all, they just want fair compensation, and we can not have that. So corporations now look to cut labor costs as much as possible.
We receive good made by children. We receive goods that are tainted with lead, arsenic and other harmful agents. We receive inferior products. Now who do you think is going to buy this *** if everyone out of work? Conservatives: You are fools.

[irmcvet971]

Unio
ns are outdated in the global market. The workers should shut up and go away.

Posted by lady_organs at 09:15 AM : Dec 08, 2008

When did you fascist repeal the NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT? Strange that I would miss something THAT major? It hasn''t been appealed and IF you think Union''s are dead hang on to your swastika Sparky, you are fixin'' to get some REAL worker anger in this nation.

[irmcvet971]

It should surprise no one that Obama agrees with Jackson.

Posted by Winslowe1 at 09:17 AM : Dec 08, 2008

What does THAT mean? Don''t you agree with these workers? Don''t YOU feel they have a right to the REQUIREMENTS contained in their contract and the LAW? What kind of American are you?

[winslowe1]

It should surprise no one that Obama agrees with Jackson.

[biblethumpar]

jamesm12341 , and how much do you make James?

[irmcvet971]

I have a feeling there will be many more scenes like this playing out in the next few months,
where companies with little or no profit margin
simply pack up and leave,

Posted by Biblethumpar at 09:09 AM : Dec 08, 2008

Where in the story does it say that? Now lets consentrate here!! These Employees NEGOTIATED a BINDING Agreement with this Company. THEY provided the LABOR as required and THEY have a right to the THEIR earned benefits under that agreement. This Company DIDN''T Claim to not have the money, wasn''t going into bankruptcy... NONE of that. They just flat out skipped out on these workers and deserved to be locked up like any criminal.... PERIOD!!

[irmcvet971]

What a moronic post!!!

Further proof that you''''''''ve NEVER had a job.


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Posted by IamHungry68 at 09:07 AM : Dec 08, 2

That''s all the poster ever does. IT thinks IT is so much better than everyone else that getting involved in an honest debate about the fairness of what is happening out there is beneath them. As far as I''m concerned IT doesn''t exist anymore on this board!