Chicago workers end sit-in at closed factory ‘We lost the jobs but we got something,’

[kpete]

Source: MSNBC

Chicago workers end sit-in at closed factory
‘We lost the jobs but we got something,’ worker says after deal reached

CHICAGO - With cheers and chants that echoed President-elect Barack Obama's campaign of change, jubilant workers agreed to a $1.75 million settlement that ends their six-day occupation of a shuttered Chicago factory that became a symbol of the plight of labor nationwide.

Republic Windows & Doors, union leaders and Bank of America reached the deal Wednesday evening. Each former Republic employee will get eight weeks' salary, all accrued vacation pay and two months' paid health care, said U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, who helped broker the deal. He said it works out to about $7,000 apiece.

"We lost the jobs but we got something," said Lalo Munoz, who worked at the plant for 24 years.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28173917/

[bdamomma]

1. so they got the money but no jobs?

I hope those people would be able to find work.

[emlev]

2. I think that's what they were asking for, what was legally due them. n/t

[IADEMO2004]

3. Jobs went to Iowa

http://www.bythefault.com/2008/12/08/republic-windows-and-doors/


The statement also revealed that the family of Richard Gillman, once a minority shareholder who in 2006 and 2007 bought out Republic, last month formed a new window business — Echo Windows LLC. All along, workers here said they feared the owners were shutting down to reopen a cheaper operation somewhere else. A trade publication reported last week that Echo had recently bought a window manufacturing plant in Red Oak, Iowa. No one from Republic could be reached for comment.


It's the American way

A-HOLES

[eilen]

5. I knew I heard about that somewhere nt

[Lifetimedem]

6. Well aren't they clever

At least they now have a loan to pay back.

I wish the workers would pool that money and buy that closed plant

[Hannah Bell]

7. It's my opinion that BoA & the Gillmans were in cahoots to screw their

workers.

Good for the workers & UE for not putting up with it.

[robinlynne]

4. They were never asking for their jobs, only the severance pay.

[sarcasmo]

8. They got what they were owed, good for them on having a backbone, attention Democratic Senators