A New Chapter: The Organizing of the President from Des Plaines, Illinois
By Al Giordano
Wells Fargo bank seeks to foreclose upon and liquidate Hartmarx, a Des Plaines, Illinois company where 500 workers make business suits, and the largest domestic menswear manufacturer to survive in the United States.
Among the Americans who wear those suits: President Obama.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), a close ally of the President, represents the workers. Illinois State Treasurer Alex Giannoulias – a frequent basketball buddy of the commander-in-chief – has joined with the workers and told Wells Fargo that if it goes ahead with the foreclosure he’ll pull $8 billion in state funds that the bank manages for the state away from it. US Rep. Phil Hare (D-Illinois), a former 13-year employee of the company, is standing with the workers, too. So is US Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois), a key ally of the President whose great aunt, an immigrant, worked at the same factory.
The Progress Illinois blog is covering the story 24/7. (And if any Illinois Field Hands can get out there with video, photo cameras, or pad and paper, and report back to us on what is happening, that's what we're here for.)
Workers have just voted today to occupy the factory with a sit-in (much like what happened last November at Republic Windows & Doors of Chicago) if Wells Fargo – a recipient of $25 billion in “bailout” loans from the federal government – goes through with its attempted closure of the Hartmarx facility.
What we have here is a perfect storm, and another example of how by organizing on the local level, the entire country can be moved into a better, more worker-friendly, future.
The countdown now begins to the inevitable question that will be popped by some enterprising reporter to the President of the United States, asking if he supports the workers' efforts to save the company, and whether his administration will play hardball with Wells Fargo. I'll bet my lunch that the answer will be very similar to what he said about the Republic Windows & Doors occupation late last year: that "their cause is just."
The tactic of occupying factories that are threatened with closure is still one step short of the real long term solution for many of the economic problems faced in the United States and elsewhere: worker management of the means of production, not through a middleman called government, but directly, and at the most local level possible. The factory belongs to those that work it! And that is the door that is creaking open waiting to be entered.
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Followup to Republic Windows & Doors
Submitted on May 11th, 2009 by Lucidamente (not verified)Thanks, Al. And this time, there won't be Rod Blagojevich to step all over the story! And concerning Republic Windows & Doors, it's worth noting the following, as reported by UPI on April 27, (http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/27/Biden-tours-closed-then-reopened-...):
Biden Tours Closed-Then-Reopened Factory
"What I have seen here today at Serious Materials Chicago inspires me and brings to life the real impact the Recovery Act is already having, just in the short time since our work began," Biden said at reception at the facility.
Serious Materials Chicago reopened because of increased demand for energy-saving building products resulting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments in weatherization and energy programs and energy efficiency tax credits, Biden said.
Joining him for the visit were U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Roland Burris, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Serious Materials Chief Executive Officer Kevin Surace.
The Serious Materials facility, which previously housed Republic Windows and Doors, closed in December 2008 when the company declared bankruptcy, leaving more than 260 union workers unemployed. In February 2009, Serious Materials acquired the factory's assets, and in early March the company said it intended to reopen the factory and rehire its employees to meet demand under the Recovery Act.
"We're here today because the Recovery Act has given companies like Republic Windows and Doors, now Serious Materials Chicago, a new lease on life," Durbin said.
Lucidamente - Excellent point...
Submitted on May 11th, 2009 by Al Giordano...about Blagojevich not being around to gum up the story this time!
My aunt and uncle lived in
Submitted on May 11th, 2009 by Laura M. PoyneerMy aunt and uncle lived in Des Plaines for a long time though my uncle has since passed away and my aunt has moved to another state. My uncle worked for United Airlines his whole career.
It's interesting that both of these situations (the Republic Windows one and this) are in the president's home state!
Relating this to the Senate race in Illinois
Submitted on May 11th, 2009 by Elliot KaufmanI wonder if the primary (which is heated now in large part due to Blagojevich's insane scheme to somehow not be removed from office by selecting Burris after originally trying to sell the senate) isn't a blessing in disguse on this front, as both Giannoulias and Schakowsky are running for the Senate and this is definitely a boon to both of them in the context of both a Democratic primary and a general election against someone like Mark Kirk.
This is of course, not to disrespect either Giannoulias or Schakowsky the latter of which has always been a strong labor ally and overall a strong progressive (I simply don't know enough about Giannoulias to make a judgment of him independent of this).
Either way though, it's good to know that among Illinois Democrats, Obama wasn't an exception.
Close to Home
Submitted on May 11th, 2009 by Kris JohnsonBeing originally from Park Ridge, IL, right outside Des Plaines, this definitely hits close to home. Thanks for bringing attention to this, Al.
Re Elliot: I also think this is interesting ahead of the primary. Perhaps this will garner Alex Giannoulias and Jan Schakowsky more name recognition state-wide, which I believe has been a definite factor in looking at polling for the primary.