VICTORY at republic windows & doors!

A few days ago I wrote a brief post about the workers at Republic Windows & Doors in Chicago, who decided to occupy their factory after they were given only three days' notice of its closing and denied severance pay, accrued vacation pay and health care.

Just six days after they started their occupation--and after a flurry of media attention and coordinated protests at Bank of America buildings in Chicago and across the country--the workers won nearly $2 million in severance pay and health insurance coverage from Bank of America, Republic's main creditor.

New details also came out about Republic--including the fact that the owners of the plant had quietly purchased and were running a similar, non-union, factory in Iowa. And the fact that the settlement with BoA nearly fell apart when CEO Richard Gillman tried to demand extra cash to cover the leases on his BMW and Mercedes, as well as nearly $35,000 in salary for himself.

While the workers at Republic are still out of a job (for the moment, at least) there is no doubt that they've scored a big victory. They received messages of support from as far away as Japan and France, and the media attention they attracted was a big factor in pressuring local politicians (including Senate-seat-selling Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich) to at least act like they were on the side of the workers--most importantly, by not arresting them.

The Republic sit-in shows just how quickly militancy can develop in a crisis--and the importance of organization. Without the planning of union organizers--who noticed management sneaking important equipment out of the plant several weeks ago and began to plan for a fight--anger at the closing might easily have dissipated into despair. But when presented with a plan of action, workers voted unanimously in support of an occupation.

It also shows how easily ordinary people can summon considerable reserves of cooperation, self-organization and discipline when necessary. During their brief six-day action, the Republic workers organized themselves into three shifts and set up committees for security, safety and cleaning. A sign on the cafeteria wall made it clear that no drugs, alcohol or smoking were allowed inside the plant during the occupation.

Finally, it shows what can happen when working people suddenly become aware of their own power. "See that sign up there?" the local's vice president Melvin Maclin said. "Without us, it would just say 'Republic,' because we make the windows and doors. This shows that you can fight--and that you have to fight."

It's not clear yet what the wider implications of this victory will be, but it's a welcome breath of militancy for the US labor movement. With rough economic times almost certainly ahead, I have a feeling militancy will be in demand again soon.

The New York Times has a surprisingly sympathetic and detailed article on the sit-in. Excellent analysis and first-hand reporting can also be found here and here.