The Red Menace

[prole]

 

...or whiners? Either way, they're gettin' shit done.

 

Illinois Threatens Bank Over Sit-In

NYT 12/08/08

 

CHICAGO — Illinois will no longer do business with Bank of America until the bank restores credit to the shuttered factory here where workers are continuing their sit-in, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced Monday.

 

Executives at the plant, Republic Windows and Doors, which is on the city’s North Side, have said they need the restoration of their line of credit, which the bank canceled last week, to enable them to pay workers severance and vacation time owed to them.

 

“During these times of economic turmoil, we must ensure that workers’ rights are protected,” Governor Blagojevich said. He said the Illinois Department of Labor will file a complaint if negotiations between the factory’s owners, the workers’ union and Bank of America officials, expected later this afternoon, are not resolved rapidly.

 

“Families are already struggling to keep afloat,” the governor said, in a release issued by his office. “I hope that the company will be motivated to exhaust all resources to stay open. We should be putting people to work during this difficult economic time — not sending them to the unemployment line.”

 

Governor Blagojevich’s announcement came after President-Elect Barack Obama’s defense of the workers Sunday, in which Mr. Obama said the company should “follow through on its commitment” to pay them.

 

The workers, who were laid off last Friday, continued their sit-in for the fourth day Monday, as they awaited the meeting, which was to be held downtown. The meeting was the first sign of progress in the peaceful, yet dramatic labor situation that has captured the attention of a nation reeling from the recession and the loss of more than 600,000 manufacturing jobs.--from NYT 12/8/08

 

 

[STP]

What was the original purpose of the bailout bill?

 

In other news...

Illinois governor arrested on corruption charges

[prole]

Git served, beeyotch!

 

Workers Win: Bank To Give Credit to Chicago Plant

 

Chicago – Bank of America says it will extend credit to a Chicago window and door maker whose workers have occupied the factory for five days.

 

The bank said Tuesday that it's willing to give the Republic Windows and Doors factory "a limited amount of additional loans." That's so it can resolve claims of employees who have staged a sit-in since Friday.

 

The factory closed Friday after Bank of America canceled its financing.

 

Workers were given three days' notice. But they refused to leave and vowed to stay there until receiving assurances they would receive severance and accrued vacation pay.

 

The bank has been criticized for cutting off the plant's credit after taking federal bailout money.--from AP 12/9/08