A new twist on the Republic Doors and Windows story.

  

The intentions of Republic Doors and Windows were always pretty clear. The Chicago company was seized by its employees last December when the workers weren’t paid the money they were owed. Republic’s slimey plan was to reopen a non-union plant in Iowa. Aided and abetted by Bank Of America (which had just received a huge share of the Bush bailout), the greedy owners were trying to sneak out of town. They were caught red handed by the Republic workers, members of the United Electrical Workers Union.

With broad nation-wide support, the Republic workers gave up the plant only after they received what was owed to them.

Now the story has taken a new turn.

The factory on Chicago’s Goose Island has been purchased by Serious Materials, a green California Company. The UE is back. So are the employees. With the same contract at the same pay.

“We are happy that the purchase of our former plant by Serious Materials has been approved. Our members are ready to get back to work and make great energy efficient green windows for Serious. We look forward to working together to create green jobs at living wages,” said Armando Robles, President of UE Local 1110.

And the non-union plant in Iowa? Out of business.

Read more here.

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