Workers Republic (30-minute version)

On CAN TV Chicago cable tv Channel 19:
Thurs., July 23, 9:30 pm
Fri., July 24, 4:30 pm
Thurs., July 30, 9:30 pm
Fri., July 31, 4:30 pm

On Evanston Cable Channel 6:
Mon., Aug. 3, 5:30 pm
Wed., Aug. 5, 9:00 pm
Sat., Aug. 8, 12:30 am
Mon., Aug. 10, 5:30 pm
Wed., Aug. 12, 9:00 pm
Sat., Aug. 15, 12:30 am

Labor Beat presents this special 30 minute version of the new documentary on the factory occupation by United Electrical Workers Local 1110 at Republic Windows and Doors late last year in Chicago. Republic Windows told the workers that they were shutting down the Goose Island plant just weeks before Christmas--in violation of the the WARN Act, which requires that bosses notify employees at least 60 days prior to a plant closing. Passed in 1988, the WARN act itself is a paltry sop which still ends up justifying workforce cuts. Local 1110 members, with the support of the UE International, voted to occupy the plant, and at that point their cause went viral. Bank of America, the Billion Dollar Bailouts, the Governor of Illinois, Pres. Obama, organized labor nationally, all were pulled into the vortex of debate on the occupation, the first in many decades in the U.S.

The story of the workers is ongoing, but they did make the politicians and the banks enforce the WARN act, and now there is a new buyer for the plant. This 30-minute version basically takes us up to the point where Local 1110 members were finally given their severance pay, according to the law.

Whatever the eventual outcome regarding jobs at the Goose Island plant, the heroic occupation by Local 1110 members put the national spotlight on the injustice of bank bailouts, where government money (the peoples' money) was given to the financial institutions which caused the crisis rather than directed toward taking over, or nationalizing, plants for the benefit of the people (taxpayers) working there.

It also demonstrated that workers, acting independently in their own class interest, can become a powerful political force. "There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun", someone once said.

Shot and edited by labor film-maker Andrew Freund, this is the only in depth presentation of this historic workers struggle which became a global cause célèbre.

This video is not for sale by Labor Beat.
To find out how to get a copy of the full version, contact:
videoinsurgent420 (at) yahoo.com

Labor Beat is a CAN TV Community Partner. Labor Beat is a non-profit 501(c)(3) member of IBEW 1220. Views are those of the producer Labor Beat. For info: mail (at) laborbeat.org, www.laborbeat.org. 312-226-3330. For other Labor Beat videos, visit Google Video or YouTube and search "Labor Beat".