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| Obama Backs Window Workers Staging Sin-In |
| 2008-12-08 |
| CHICAGO (Dec. 8) - President-elect Barack Obama is weighing in on behalf of workers staging a sit-in on the factory floor of their former Chicago employer to protest abruptly losing their jobs last week. They had no WARNING I tell you, clueless! The death of the housing boom and downturn in orders and production, empty shipping dock, etc, totally escaped the window and door people did it? Obama told a news conference Sunday that Republic Windows and Doors should follow through on its commitments to the 200 workers, who say they won't leave the plant until they are assured they'll receive their severance and vacation pay. "The workers who are asking for the benefits and payments that they have earned, I think they're absolutely right and understand that what's happening to them is reflective of what's happening across this economy," Obama said. And when one of terminated employees is injured in the plant and the insurance company says, NO CAN DO to medical coverage and damages, what then Messiah? He's gonna be a busy young man getting in the middle of all of these closings, very, very busy young man. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan also said her office was investigating the "We never expected this," said Melvin Maclin, a factory employee and vice president of the local union that represents the workers. "We expected to go to jail." No sir'ee, didn't see it a comin. Just been enjoying the hell out of these 8 hour coffee breaks. The Rev. Jesse Jackson delivered turkeys, pledging the support of his Chicago-based civil rights group, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. "These workers deserve their wages, deserve fair notice, deserve health security," Jackson said. "This may be the beginning of long struggle of worker resistance finally." A workers revolution? How very communist. Leah Fried, an organizer for the United Electrical Workers union that represents the workers, said the company told the union that Bank of America has canceled its financing. The bank had said in a statement that it wasn't responsible for Republic's financial obligations to its employees. Remember donks, trickle-down One of the factory's workers, Silvia Mazon, said in Spanish that she needs the money owed to her for an $1,800 monthly house payment. The 40-year-old from Cicero said she has enough money saved to survive for one month. "We're making history," she said. Better be 'making' tracks to a new job or a warmer climate. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat, called it the start of a movement. "This story has resonated around the world," she said. "Movement" as in industry continuing to move OUT OF ILLINOIS as it has been for the past 45 years. |
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