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
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
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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update
24.02.2012 17:18
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After being told by local management this morning that the Serious Energy window factory would close effective immediately, workers at the former Republic Windows and Doors plant had one demand: time to save these jobs by finding a buyer for the business. Local management refused and in response, workers voted to occupy for the second time with their union the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America, UE. In 2008 UE members successfully occupied their factory and won $1.75 million in wages and benefits owed to them from Bank of America.
After the occupation began, Serious Energy's corporate leaders stepped in, declared that the local management should not have acted in this manner, and immediately began talks to resolve the situation responsibly. A deal has now been struck to try and save the jobs. Serious Energy has agreed to keep the plant operational and people on the job for another 90 days while the union workers and the company work together to find a way to keep the plant open with new ownership because the plant will no longer be part of Serious Energy's business plan. After 9 hours the occupation has ended with a hopeful workforce.
"We started the morning with the plant closing and ended the day with work and a chance to save our jobs." said Armando Robles, President of UE Local 1110, "We are committed to finding a new buyer for the plant or if we can, buy the place ourselves and run it. Either way, we are hopeful".
anon