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Occupy gets Serious: Chicago Factory (re)occupied!

Peterpannier | 24.02.2012 03:35 | Occupy Everywhere | History | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | World

Workers have re-occupied the 'Republic Windows and Doors' factory that was occupied in 2008. The factory is now owned by 'Serious Materials', and so the occupation has earned the amusing and appropriate title #seriousoccupation on twitter. Circa 65 workers occupying the factory following threat of closure and loss of jobs, eerily reminiscent of situation...

Repost from libcom plus additional links below

Libcom has a great page of updates and background here:  http://libcom.org/news/workers-occupy-factory-chicago-24022012 (some text from which copied below)

There's a nice short film made by someone outside the factory here:  http://youtu.be/7H-XB5TgFFE

You can also follow developments on twitter, hastag #seriousoccupation
 https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23seriousoccupation

You can watch a 1 hour film on the previous successful (at least partially...) occupation here:
 http://vimeo.com/insurgentproductions/review/30882647/be58e0c47e

and they are livestreaming here (they were at 3.30am UK time, anyway):  http://www.ustream.tv/channel/occupychi

Intro to libcom report follows:

"News, Twitter and on-the-ground updates from the occupation of Serious Materials in Chicago.

Workers with the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America have occupied Serious Materials (formerly Republic Window & Door) in Chicago. The company had said it is closing operations at its Chicago plant due to "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[...]"

In response, the union countered that it wanted time to attempt to find a new buyer or figure out if they could raise the money themselves to purchase the factory and keep it running, possibly as a cooperative. Around 65 workers are occupying the building right now to back up that demand.

In 2008, UE workers occupied the same factory, then operated by Republic Window & Door, in protest of Republic's violation of federal labor law not giving the workers 60 days notice prior to the announcement of closure. The six day occupation ended in a settlement that amounted to $1.75 million.

Updates to follow in the comment section.

Twitter hashtag: #seriousoccupation

Republic Windows, redux? Workers occupy Goose Island plant
 http://trib.in/xnaJ0O

UE's Facebook page
 http://on.fb.me/ylKRui"

 http://libcom.org/news/workers-occupy-factory-chicago-24022012

Peterpannier
- Homepage: http://libcom.org/news/workers-occupy-factory-chicago-24022012

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