Even Before Obama Takes Office, Chicago Workers Score A Victory!

The last eight years under Bush have been anything but hospitable to the plight of workers in our country. Regulation after regulation that was put into protect our nation's middle class has been swept away. With that and in bad economic times, Bank of America took away Republic Windows and Doors' credit line and the company shuttered their factory's doors. The workers were left with nothing, but they weren't ready to give up. That dedication didn't win them their jobs back, but they certainly won the day.

From MSNBC:

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.[...]

About 200 of 240 laid-off workers began their sit-in last week after Republic gave them just three days' notice the plant was closing. The workers had argued that Republic violated federal law because employees were not given 60 days' notice. They vowed to stay until they received assurances they would get severance and accrued vacation pay.

Workers carrying sleeping bags left the factory late Wednesday amid cheers of "Yes We Can," a slogan that became part of Obama's campaign.

Yes We Can is certainly right. With the help and support of the President-Elect and others, the workers finally got something out of the situation that initially looked like a complete loss for them. They may not have been able to keep their jobs, but the banks involved (JPM Chase pledged $400K) made the loans available and will go to the people that need it, not the executives (such as those in the financial sector who got paid from the bailout) who can live without a larger bonus this year.