Republic Windows Redux? 65 Workers Occupy Closing Chicago Factory

[Omaha Steve]

http://2012indyinfo.com/2012/02/24/republic-windows-redux-workers-occupy-closing-chicago-factory/

This entry was posted on February 24, 2012

Published on Thursday, February 23, 2012 by Common Dreams
– Common Dreams staff

Echoing the 2008 sit-in of the Republic Windows & Doors factory in Chicago, a group of workers have again locked themselves inside the plant — now run by Serious Energy. The company has said it is shutting its operations, and workers are occupying the plant demanding the possibility of keeping their jobs.

Vicente Rangel, Armando Robles, United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Local 1110 President; and Leah Fried, were among the workers and union representatives banding together at the company called Serious Materials Inc. (Terrence Antonio James/ Chicago Tribune) Media are reporting this statement from the company:

“Ongoing economic challenges in construction and building products, collapse in demand for window products, difficulty in obtaining favorable lease terms, high leasing and utility costs and taxes, and a range of other factors unrelated to labor costs, have compelled Serious to cease production at the Chicago facility.”

The Chicago Tribune reports:

A group of about 65 workers who occupied a Goose Island window factory in 2008 have once again locked themselves inside the plant in a desperate move to save their jobs.

FULL story at link.