Hi All, I have received word that Jesse Jackson Sr. is planning on visiting the workers at the occupied Republic Windows & Doors factory tomorrow around 10 AM. There maybe an impromptu rally at that time.

OK, here are links to some of the audio I promised. I will try to get more up tonight... http://www.archive.org/details/RepublicWindowsWorkersOccupyFactory http://www.archive.org/details/LeahFriedOnRepublicWindowsFactoryOccupation

Check back in a few hours for audio of interviews with the workers at Republic Windows occupation.

Spirits remain high as the workers at Republic Windows & Doors continue to occupy their factory. The company had planned to close it's doors at 10:00 AM Friday, but the workers, members of UE (United Electrical Workers) Local 1110, refused to leave until the company agreed to pay them the severance they are due by law. Under the federal WARN Act (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act), workers are supposed to be given 60 days notice of a plant’s closing. Under Illinois law, it is 75 days. The workers we told on Tuesday that the plant would close on Friday. They are demanding to be paid for the full 75 days they are due, any vacation days they have accrued and for their health care coverage to be continued during that time. The workers were told they no longer had health care coverage as of Friday. Republic management is placing the blame on Bank of America, the company’s primary financier, stating that the bank is refusing to extend any further credit to the company...

Here are some pics from the rally to supported the workers at Republic Windows & Doors who continue to occupy thier factory. The rest can be found at... http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb5/kronstadt2/Republic%20Factory%20Occupation/

CLERGY AND COMMUNITY HOLD PRAYER VIGIL FOR WORKERS OCCUPYING REPUBLIC WINDOWS PLANT WHO: Clergy and Community Members with workers occupying plant WHERE: Republic Windows, 1333 N Hickory Ave (on Goose Island , near Division and Halsted) WHEN: Saturday, December 6 at 12:00 noon The Chicago Interfaith Committee on Worker Issues is holding a prayer rally for the 200 workers who have been told that their plant is closing but have not been properly paid by the guidelines set forth in the WARN Act. It is estimated that the workers are owed $1,000,000. On Wednesday the workers, members of the United Electrical Workers union, protested outside of Bank of America in downtown Chicago , chanting, “You got bailed out, we got sold out.” With Republic Windows not able to pay its workers, Bank of America apparently now owns the plant, filled with inventory and expensive equipment. The workers insist that they get paid before the assets are removed from the expansive plan...

Good articles from Chitown Daily News with more details... http://www.chitowndailynews.org/Chicago_news/Workers_stage_sitin_over_money_owed_to_them,19471 http://www.chitowndailynews.org/Chicago_news/Bank_agrees_to_meet_with_union_and_workers,19474