Republic Workers Celebration

SOME BACKGROUND

I learned from a labor activist friend who was in attendance at the Republic workers' victory celebration that UE, the union that represents the Republic workers, is not normally liked by unions like the Teamsters, AFSCME and SIUE. Those are the very unions that organized the event last night and who rallied around the front door of the Republic Factory.

Apparently UE was expelled from the CIO in the 1940's for refusing to throw out some of its leadership who were socialists. They have only about 35,000 members, but are much more bottom-up focused than some of the bigger more bureaucratic unions much to the appreciation of their membership.

The UE Republic workers are about 60% Latino, 30% African American, 10% white. They all worked together and fought together during this struggle and won.

My friend, who was at the Republic factory every day during the action and who has spoken to many of the workers said that things inside the factory happened very quickly leading up to the sit-in. The workers were mobilized and organized fast. They had no choice because they were just told they would be out of work in 3 days. They were told that the plant would close at 10:00am on a Friday. The workers were in contact with their union and were given 2 choices: 1. Walk out at 10:00am and let the issue of severance go to court and stay there for months, or 2. Stay in the factory and fight. They unanimously voted to stay, and we have all seen the results of that. The bank eventually gave the company the money to pay the severance to the workers.

THE CELEBRATION EVENT

Last night I attended a celebration for the Republic Windows and Doors workers at the Teamsters Local 705 Auditorium here in Chicago. The Republic workers were in attendance as well as rank-and-file Teamsters, independent press, big wigs and members from AFSCME, and SEIU. Of course members and leaders of UE, the union the Republic workers belong to, were there as well. I noticed a few students in the audience, and I met some labor activists from groups like Jobs With Justice and IWW. The evening was hosted by the Chicago Interfaith Committee on Worker's Issues.

The night started with a meal of tamales, rice and beans for all in attendance. The program started with the local and regional presidents of UE making some remarks about the success of the sit-in. The local leader after thanking the Teamsters and event organizers, said in broken English, "they told us to go home, and we said NO!" very clearly to great applause.

The regional president talked about the bosses and bankers' rules for bankruptcy. He pointed out that those rules are meant to protect the bosses and bankers, they are not meant for the workers. He congratulated the Republic workers for breaking the rules. He went on to talk about the new presidential administration and their promise of change. He said that they won't make changes unless workers make them. He said workers must, "break the rules that must be broken."

I left after these opening remarks. Speakers from Teamsters, the Interfaith Committee, and AFSCME were also on the agenda. I had arrived with and distributed one-page FFWP fliers that called for using the Republic victory as inspiration for a broader worker's movement and the creation of hands Off Our Jobs and Hands Off Our Homes Committees.