US worker sit-in wins all demands, but workers lose jobs

Update #2: Vote is 'Yes' at Republic; Plant Occupation Ends
10 December, 2008 http://www.ueunion.org/

CHICAGO After the conclusion of negotiations Wednesday evening, the
membership of Local 1110, more than 200 workers, met in the plant cafeteria
to hear and consider the tentative settlement that had been worked out by UE
negotiators over the past three days.

The settlement was approved by a unanimous vote.

'Justice - We Did It!'

Following the vote, the UE members, led by Local President Armando Robles,
marched out of the plant, chanting "We did it!" in English and Spanish.

Pres. Robles stepped to the microphones outside the front entrance to the
plant, where a throng of reporters and cameras had been waiting. He
announced the end of the occupation and said that justice had been achieved.

UE Western Region President Carl Rosen then described the negotiations,
summarized the settlement agreement, and commented on the significance of
the struggle and the achievement.

Pay, Health Care, Vacation Pay

The settlement totals $1.75million. It will provide the workers with:

eight weeks of pay they are owed under the federal WARN Act; provided with two months of continued health coverage, and; pay for all accrued and unused vacation. JPMorgan Chase will provide $400,000 of the settlement, with the balance
coming from Bank of America

Third Party Fund

Although the money will be provided as a loan to Republic Windows and Doors,
it will go directly into a third-party fund whose sole purpose is to pay the
workers what is owed them.

As the Local 1110 leaders characterized the settlement, "We fought to make
them pay what they owe us, and we won."

'Historic Victory'

UE Director of Organization Bob Kingsley spoke on behalf of the National
Union, describing the outcome of the occupation as "a victory for workers
everywhere," and as "an historic victory for America's labor movement."

Kingsley went on to call the settlement "a win for all working men and women
who face uncertainty, unfairness and job loss in a troubled economy."

'The Window of Opportunity' Foundation
Kingsley then announced the creation of a new foundation, dedicated to
reopening the plant. It will be initiated with seed money from the UE
national union and the thousands of dollars of donations to the UE Local
1110 Solidarity Fund that have come in from across the country and around
the world in just the past five days.

Melvin Maclin of Local 1110 announced the name of the foundation, which was
chosen by the workers themselves: the Window of Opportunity Fund. Maclin
said that the fund will be open to receive donations from all friends of the
Republic workers and supporters of their struggle.

Rosen introduced U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, praising the congressman for his
tireless work in behalf of the Republic workers and indispensible role in
bringing about the settlement. Gutierrez spoke at some length, and then
introduced David Rudis, Illinois State President, Bank of America.