VP Biden stops by former Republic Doors factory.
Joe Biden tours Serious Materials, formerly Republic Windows and Doors, with CEO Kevin Surace (right) and factory worker UE local leader Armando Robles. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)
Things are still not back to what they were before December’s takeover of the Republic Doors and Windows factory by members of the UE local who worked there. The takeover, you remember, was prompted by the sudden closing of the plant by its owners with no payment of federally guaranteed severance.
The workers’ seizure of the plant caused a sensation and international support.
Since that time, the factory has been purchased by Serious Materials, a green construction products manufacturer based in California.
But Serious still hasn’t gotten the plant up and running and many of the employees have been forced to fnd work elsewhere. It’s been a tough time to do that.
Today the Mayor, Senator Durbin and VP Joe Biden showed up.
Flanked by Mayor Richard M. Daley and U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Roland Burris as well as Armando Robles, a Serious Materials workers and union representative, Biden called weatherization “the biggest bang for the buck” in the administration’s $787 billion stimulus package.
