> > > CHICAGO > > Update #2 - After the conclusion of negotiations Wednesday evening, > the membership of Local 1110, more than 200 workers, met in the > plant cafeteria to hear and consider the tentative settlement that > had been worked out by UE negotiators over the past three days. > The settlement was approved by a unanimous vote. > 'Justice - We Did It!' > > Following the vote, the UE members, led by Local President Armando > Robles, marched out of the plant, chanting "We did it!" in English > and Spanish. > Pres. Robles stepped to the microphones outside the front entrance > to the plant, where a throng of reporters and cameras had been > waiting. He announced the end of the occupation and said that > justice had been achieved. > UE Western Region President Carl Rosen then described the > negotiations, summarized the settlement agreement, and commented on > the significance of the struggle and the achievement. > Pay, Health Care, Vacation Pay > > The settlement totals $1.75million. It will provide the workers with: > eight weeks of pay they are owed under the federal WARN Act; > provided with two months of continued health coverage, and; > pay for all accrued and unused vacation. > JPMorgan Chase will provide $400,000 of the settlement, with the > balance coming from Bank of America > Third Party Fund > Although the money will be provided as a loan to Republic Windows > and Doors, it will go directly into a third-party fund whose sole > purpose is to pay the workers what is owed them. > As the Local 1110 leaders characterized the settlement, "We fought > to make them pay what they owe us, and we won." > 'Historic Victory' > > UE Director of Organization Bob Kingsley spoke on behalf of the > National Union, describing the outcome of the occupation as "a > victory for workers everywhere," and as "an historic victory for > America's labor movement." > Kingsley went on to call the settlement "a win for all working men > and women who face uncertainty, unfairness and job loss in a > troubled economy." > 'The Window of Opportunity' Foundation > > Kingsley then announced the creation of a new foundation, dedicated > to reopening the plant. It will be initiated with seed money from > the UE national union and the thousands of dollars of donations to > the UE Local 1110 Solidarity Fund that have come in from across the > country and around the world in just the past five days. > Melvin Maclin of Local 1110 announced the name of the foundation, > which was chosen by the workers themselves: the Window of > Opportunity Fund. Maclin said that the fund will be open to receive > donations from all friends of the Republic workers and supporters of > their struggle. > Rosen introduced U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, praising the congressman > for his tireless work in behalf of the Republic workers and > indispensible role in bringing about the settlement. Gutierrez spoke > at some length, and then introduced David Rudis, Illinois State > President, Bank of America. > > > > > Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass. Get your Hotmail® account > now. > You live life online. So we put Windows on the web. Learn more about > Windows Live >
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