Friday, December 12, 2008

Chicago workers use solidarity to win.

Via Business Week:

Laid-off Chicago workers hope to inspire others:

They've taken their sleeping bags and pillows back home and hauled away their protest placards after ending a nearly weeklong sit-in at a Chicago factory that came to symbolize the plight of laid-off labor.

But a day after dozens of protesting workers walked out of the Republic Windows & Doors plant with their demands met, they said they hope their triumph will inspire others nationwide to take similar stands against employers if need be.

"Sometimes people are scared to say something to big companies," said Ricardo Caceres, who spent his first night in his own bed after sleeping on a flatbed truck in the plant during the six day sit-in. "But we stood up -- opened everyone's eyes."

That should include the eyes of factory executives, some business leaders said Thursday.

"I'd be the first to say to companies that what you saw with workers at Republic will be repeated over and over across the country," said Jerry Roper, president of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. "We haven't seen this since the '30s."

About 200 of the 240 laid-off workers occupied the doors and windows manufacturer last week, demanding severance and accrued vacation pay after Republic gave them just three days notice before closing the plant down.

Jubilant workers cheered and chanted "Yes We Can" outside the factory late Wednesday night after they voted to approve a $1.75 million agreement that put an end to their protest.

"This has inspired a lot of people," Leah Fried, an organizer for the United Electrical Workers, which represents the Republic workers, said Thursday.

She said the union is looking to harness the goodwill springing from the sit-in, which even drew supportive words from President-elect Barack Obama. She said that could include networking with unions in the United States and abroad.

Caceres said he has already fielded calls from workers at other Chicago factories asking how the Republic workers took on their employer so successfully. The key, he told them: "You've got to stick together."

Even after all the attacks upon organized labor the last several weeks in the press, people standing together can still win. The Chicago workers have proved it. Our elected officials are looking at our strike and Vought's attacks and takeaways, and soon we will have a Congress and Administration who will stand up for working people. Pretty soon it won't be as easy to attack the ability of workers to earn a living.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who goes to Negotiation with the Next Negotiation Date already Planned

Anonymous said...

This morning being still very upset and wiping away tears I started e mailing. This morning I e mailed the congressman again, The governor and his wife. I even e mailed the president elect Obama and vice president Biden. I hope that many others will follow these steps as well.

I am still out here, I am not giving in even when times are at their hardest.

Everyone please help us get the word out about their take it or leave it negotiations.

Thank You
735 Sister

Anonymous said...

This is the letter in which I just sent to Bart Gordon, Lamar Alexandar, and Bob Corker.
I'm writing in reference to the strike against Vought on Briley Parkway in Nashville. As I'm sure you know members have been on strike since September. Friday there was another negotiating meeting which lasted just under 2 hours. The company left and sent word that they would meet again on January 13, 2009. I'm writing you asking that you do what you can to help. With the economy as it is, there is almost 1,000 out of work due to the strike, thus causing more loss in spending in Rutherford County and other counties. Vought has hired contractors to come in and do the job of skilled workers at higher pay than that of their regular workers. Only a small portion of that income will be spent in Tennessee. The contractors will be sending their income back home to their families, which will be a loss of revenue in Tennesse.
I say we keep sending letters. Tina

Anonymous said...

C-130 will miss TWO SHIPSETS THIS YEAR and GIV WILL BE THREE UNITS BEHIND BY YEARS END !!!! So much for making schedule this year. I know that the quality has gone down the drain. Throw it on the table and inspection will buy it!!

Anonymous said...

We can pray that wisdom abounds!
May God bless you all and meet your needs!

Anonymous said...

These negotiations were not negotiations. Most people sit down and talk about what they don't agree on. All vought does is say, " here it is, take it or leave it." Since the Nov. talks didn't go so well you would think they would want to work some things out but ...no. That just shows that Elmer Dud really does know whats going on and is part of the problem. These crooks are the cream of the crop, theres no telling what they will say next.

Anonymous said...

Why Jan. 13th.?

I will tell you why:
Vought wants concessions from us, BEFORE Jan. 20th., when the new addministration comes into power, and then Vought will be forced to deal fairly with us!

Hold on untill then, it will be worth it, to see them squirm and slither to meet our demands!

Anonymous said...

What about Govenor Bredessen (D) Tennessee? He has been at odds on the shortfall of the State Buget!

Someone needs to CONTACT him and
to point out that the MAJORITY of replacement (scabs) are from out of State, or Blue Card workers, who are sending wages that we would spend here, to other states or Countrys, that is taking away from Tennessees tax base!

Anonymous said...

It is OBVIOUS that Senetor Bob Corker is anti-union, so we are wasteing out time writing him!

Also obvious is where his campain funds originated.....Nissan, Bridgestone, Toyota, VW?, Vought-Carlisle?

Anonymous said...

STS is hiring now, you might want to go to their site. They have positions in Alabama and other places. Tina

Anonymous said...

Want to see a little bit of what our owners are like:

http://peureport.blogspot.com/2008/11/hawaiian-telecom-next-carlyle-group.html

http://peureport.blogspot.com/2008/11/hawaiian-telecom-next-carlyle-group.html

Anonymous said...

Guys, when we were at the picket line this afternoon, we heard that Vought had a meeting with the scabs, told them to be prepared Monday for at least 200 of us to cross the picket line . This has to be the funniest thing I have heard this weekend. They really believe they can give us this bull crap contract and that we are going to cross the line and help them make up for their losses. Hope we can show them exactly what we think of their crappy contract and their losses. Thanks for showing your true colors Mr. Grench!

Anonymous said...

Well, I didn't want to believe it. It looks like the company is trying to break this local union. Putting off the next neg. meeting until Jan. 13 is a ploy to get more folks to cross the picket line.The company is willing to bet everything on we union members crossing the picket line.
We can all be sure this strike is hurting the company as bad as it is hurting us.
A lot of us have a lot of seniority, we do not want to lose it. We must hang in there !!!
The one thing I would like the company do, is be straight with us tell us that we are just a number, just a tool that is used to work for your profit. The company tells us in meetings, YOU ARE HARD WORKERS, SMART WORKERS AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO HELP US BE PROFITABLE. We employees will feel better if we are told the truth about your feelings toward us. We do not like the company to be be manipulative. Folks this is just a job, working for a company that cares more for their bottom line than they do their highly qualified hard working employees. You know, we hourly workers will never forget about the way we have been treated. I will retire with the regret that I ever worked for Vought Aircraft. I hope you company management guys, Maxie, Dan, Elmer are going to be very proud of yourselves for doing this to your hourly workers. Hope ya'll have a hard time sleeping at night. May ya'll have a very miserable Christmas. My family will pray for you and your families, because we can not hate you it is not the Christian thing to do.

Anonymous said...

I've emailed the governor along with the other emails. I ask that you all start sending emails as well. I've mentioned to the governor about loss of revenue in TN. Tennessee looses for every day that the strike continues. I don't understand the company putting off negotiations until Jan. 13th. I agree with many of your blogs, the company is trying to starve us out. No one wins from the strike the sooner they get back to the tables the sooner things will get better for everyone. As a wife I to am not happy with this situation but I will support my husband. I truly believe it is time to make noise with our elected leaders. Maybe after the schools let out for the holidays we mom's and our children need to go to the strike line and let Vought and the contractors see the faces of the familys that they are harming for the holidays. Maybe we should call the media as well lets put some faces to this matter. Tina

Anonymous said...

We should get everybody together MONDAY morning and show vought what we think of them and how much we support our IAM 735 UNION. [LL]

concerned said...

i wanted tell everyone that i am very proud to be the wife of a 735 this has been a diffuclt time for everyone, but i stand behinh my husband 100%. i for one cannot believe they want you all to find a way to make up the money they have lost. you all aren't responsible for the hotel rooms the bus fairs and lets not forget the wonderful men in black! i bet they get a huge bonus for christmas! i wish you all the best of luck and hope you all have a great christmas! and just incase vought happens to read this my daughter is still having the best christmas ever! not even you can take that away from her!!!!! and i did send Bart Gordon a letter too! best wishes and good luck!

concerned said...

wanted to just say that i sent my letter to Bart Gordon tonight. and to let you know that i am a wife of a 735 and a very proud one to. although this has been a tough hard road and i for one think that its pretty sucky of them to ask you all to come up with a way to pay back for all the money they spent on bus rides hotel stays and the great and wonderful men in black! thought they were up to pre-strike production and stil making money? well i for one say i dont think so. christmas is almiost here and there isnt anything under our tree but come christmas day my 4 year old will wake up and have everything she asked ho ho for, so vought understand onething my family will be all right oneway or the other. you didnt ruin christmas for us!!!!!!!!!! to all the brothers and sisters good luck an god bless. and know you all have people standing and fighting with you!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I think it would be a good idea if a lot of us started going to maxies house and picketing,plus calling in the media to come and show it on the news.This would get his attention, im sure of it.