This release is from IFCO/PASTORS and US CUBA LABOR EXCHANGE:
ACTION ALERT: FREEDOM TO TRAVEL & TRADE
A LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT FROM IFCO/PASTORS FOR PEACE:
ASK YOUR REPS TO SUPPORT THE "FREEDOM TO TRAVEL TO CUBA" BILLS
AND THE "US/CUBA TRADE NORMALIZATION ACT"
Momentum has been building in support of the "Freedom to Travel to Cuba" bills (HR874 in the House of Representatives and S428 in the Senate; the two bills are identical). There are now 147 co- sponsors in the House and 26 in the Senate; the House bill added 11 new co-sponsors just last Friday.
PLEASE CHECK THE LIST BELOW TO SEE WHETHER YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND YOUR SENATORS HAVE SIGNED ON AS CO-SPONSORS OF THE "FREEDOM TO TRAVEL TO CUBA" BILLS (HR874/S428). If they're on the list, call and thank them! If not, please call them this week: let them know there are dozens of reasons to end restrictions on travel to Cuba and urge them to sign on to these bills!
ALSO: Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), who traveled to Cuba with Rep. Barbara Lee's delegation last month, chairs the Trade Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. After holding a hearing last week on the topic of opening trade with Cuba, he has introduced a bill, HR2272, which would repeal the Torricelli and Helms-Burton Acts, take Cuba off the list of 'state sponsors of terrorism,' and end trade restrictions. The bill already has 47 co-sponsors (listed below). Please ask your reps to sign on to co-sponsor HR2272 to end restrictions on trade to Cuba.
Congressional switchboard: 202/225-3121. Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email us or call us at IFCO: 212/926-5757.
*****
Momentum has been building in support of the "Freedom to Travel to Cuba" bills (HR874 in the House of Representatives and S428 in the Senate; the two bills are identical). There are now 147 co- sponsors in the House and 26 in the Senate; the House bill added 11 new co-sponsors just last Friday. We want to help guarantee this bill's success, and to send a message to the Congress and the Obama administration that they need to keep taking steps toward a new US/Cuba policy.
PLEASE CHECK THE LIST BELOW TO SEE WHETHER YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND YOUR SENATORS HAVE SIGNED ON AS CO-SPONSORS OF THE "FREEDOM TO TRAVEL TO CUBA" BILLS (HR874/S428).? If they're on the list, call and thank them! If not, please call them this week: let them know there are dozens of reasons to end restrictions on travel to Cuba and urge them to sign on to these bills!
ALSO: Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), who traveled to Cuba with Rep. Barbara Lee's delegation last month, chairs the Trade Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. After holding a hearing last week on the topic of opening trade with Cuba, he has introduced a bill, HR2272, which would repeal the Torricelli and Helms-Burton Acts, take Cuba off the list of 'state sponsors of terrorism,' and end trade restrictions. The bill already has 47 co-sponsors (listed below). Please ask your reps to sign on to co-sponsor HR2272 to end restrictions on trade to Cuba.
*****
House Bill HR874: sponsored by Rep William Delahunt (D-MA) and co-sponsored by Reps Abercrombie (D-HI), Alexander (R-LA), Baird (D-WA), Baldwin (D-WI), Berry (D-AR), Biggert (R-IL), Bishop, S (D- GA), Bishop, T (D-NY), Blumenauer (D-OR), Boozman (R-AR), Boswell (D-IA), Boucher (D-VA), Brady (D-PA), Brown, H. (R-SC), Capps (D-CA), Capuano (D-MA), Chaffetz (R-UT), Clarke (D-NY), Clay (D- MO), Cleaver (D-MO), Cohen (D-TN), Conyers (D-MI), Cooper (D-TN) Costa (D-CA), Costello (D-IL), Courtney (D-CT), Crowley (D-NY), Cummings (D-MD), Davis, D (D-IL), Davis, L (D-TN), Davis, S (D- CA), DeFazio (D-OR), DeGette (D-CO), DeLauro (D-CT), Doggett (D-TX), Doyle (D-PA), Edwards, D (D-MD), Ehlers (R-MI), Ellison (D-MN), Emerson (R-MO), Eshoo (D-CA), Etheridge (D-NC), Farr (D- CA), Fattah (D-PA), Filner (D-CA), Flake (R-AZ), Frank (D-MA), Fudge (D-OH), Gonzalez (D-TX), Gordon (D-TN), Grijalva (D-AZ), Gutierrez (D-IL), Harman (D-CA), Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), Hinchey (D- NY), Holden (D-PA), Hol
t (D-NJ), Honda (D-CA), Inslee (D-WA), Israel (D-NY), Jackson (D-IL), Jackson Lee (D-TX), Johnson, EB (D-TX), Johnson, H (D-GA), Johnson, T (R-IL), Kagen (D-WI), Kanjorski (D- PA), Kaptur (D-OH), Kildee (D-MI), Kilpatrick (D-MI), Kilroy (D-OH), Kind (D-WI), Kucinich (D-OH), Larsen (D-WA), Larson (D-CT), Lee (D-CA), Lewis (D-GA), Lofgren (D-CA), Lowey (D-NY), Lummis (R- WY), Lynch (D-MA), Maloney (D-NY), Markey, E (D-MA), Matheson (D-UT), Matsui (D-CA), McCarthy, C (D-NY), McCollum (D-MN), McDermott (D-WA), McGovern (D-MA), Meeks (D-NY), Michaud (D- ME), Miller, G (D-CA), Mollohan (D-WV), Moore, D (D-KS), Moore, G (D-WI), Moran, James (D-VA), Moran, Jerry (R-KS), Murtha (D-PA), Nadler (D-NY), Neal (D-MA), Norton (D-DC), Oberstar (D-MN), Olver (D-MA), Ortiz (D-TX), Pastor (D-AZ), Paul (R-TX), Payne (D-NJ), Peterson (D-MN), Pingree (D- ME), Polis (D-CO), Pomeroy (D-ND), Price, D (D-NC), Rangel (D-NY), Richardson (D-CA), Ross (D-AR), Ruppersberger (D-MD), Rush (D-IL), Ryan, T (D
-OH), Sanchez, Linda (D-CA), Sanchez, Loretta (D-CA), Schakowsky (D-
IL), Schwartz (D-PA), Scott, D (D-GA), Serrano (D-NY), Slaughter (D-NY), Smith, Adam (D-WA), Snyder (D-AR), Stark (D-CA), Tanner (D-TN), Tauscher (D-CA), Taylor (D-MS), Thompson, B (D-MS), Thompson, M (D-CA), Tierney (D-MA), Towns (D-NY), Van Hollen (D-MD), Velasquez (D-NY), Walz (D-MN), Waters (D-CA), Watson (D-CA), Watt (D-NC), Waxman (D-CA), Weiner (D-NY), Welch (D-VT), Woolsey (D-CA), Yarmuth (D-KY).? [147 total:? 135 Democrats and 12 Republicans, as of 5/11/09]
Senate Bill S428: sponsored by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and co-sponsored by Senators Barasso (R- WY), Baucus (D-MT), Bingaman (D-NM), Boxer (D-CA), Cantwell (D-WA), Conrad (D-ND), Crapo (R- ID), Dodd (D-CT), Durbin (D-IL), Enzi (R-WY), Feingold (D-WI), Feinstein (D-CA), Harkin (D- IA), Johnson (D-SD), Landrieu (D-LA), Leahy (D-VT), Lincoln (D-AR), Lugar (R-IN), McCaskill (D-MO), Pryor (D-AR), Reed (D-RI), Sanders (I-VT), Udall, T (D-NM), Webb (D-VA), Wyden (D-OR).? (Withdrawn: Bennett, M (D-CO).) [26 total:? 21 Democrats, 1 Independent, and 4 Republicans, as of 5/11/09]
House Bill HR2272:? sponsored by Rep Bobby Rush (D-IL) and co-sponsored by Reps Abercrombie (D-HI), Bishop, S (D-GA), Brady (D-PA), Capuano (D-MA), Clarke (D-NY), Clay (D-MO), Cleaver (D-MO), Clyburn (D-SC), Cohen (D-TN),? Conyers (D-MI), Costello (D-IL), Cummings (D-MD), Davis, D (D-IL), Delahunt (D-MA), Ellison (D-MN),? Farr (D-CA), Fattah (D-PA), Filner (D-CA), Frank (D-MA), Fudge (D-OH), Green, A (D-TX), Hinchey (D-NY), Johnson, EB (D-TX), Johnson, H (D-GA), Kaptur (D-OH), Kildee (D-MI), Kilpatrick (D-MI), Kucinich (D-OH), Lee (D-CA), Lewis (D-GA), Matsui (D-CA), McDermott (D-WA), Meeks (D-NY), Moore, G (D-WI), Neal (D-MA), Payne (D-NJ), Rangel (D-NY), Richardson (D-CA), Schakowsky (D-CA), Scott, D (D-GA), Serrano (D-NY), Stupak (D-MI), Towns (D-NY),? Velasquez (D-NY), Waters (D-CA), Watt (D-NC), Woolsey (D-CA)? [48 total: 48 Democrats, as of 5/11/09]
Monday, May 18, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Urgent action needed to stem foreclosure crisis
By John Bachtell
Chicago – The foreclosure crisis is so severe in Cook County that a judge ordered a temporary halt to scheduling new foreclosure cases. The crisis is devastating Chicago’s African American and Latino communities, where one South Side neighborhood is experiencing a vacancy rate of 40%. But the crisis is now spreading to the 6 county suburban areas.
Housing advocates are demanding urgent action especially from the banks and lending corporations. So far there has been little relief although Illinois Governor Pat Quinn recently signed into law a measure that would give homeowners facing eviction 90 extra days to work out a borrowing plan with their lenders.
The organization Action Now has mobilized to block threatened evictions and has been able to keep several families in their homes. They are demanding action by the Cook County Board of Commissioners. According to Action Now, the courts have the power to permit mediation in foreclosure cases but the program goes unused.
“It is time for (the county) to push for a mediation program in the Courts and act in the interest of the taxpayers of Cook County. The taxpayers are paying for the courts to foreclose on the very people who are paying the property taxes now for the interests of often out of state and out of country banks. We are also paying for the eviction process, which results in thousands of vacant houses throughout our communities," said Denise Dixon, Executive Director of Action Now.
In her April 1 order to suspend scheduling, Chancery Division Presiding Judge Dorothy Kinnaird starkly illustrated the growing crisis. In 2005 there were nearly 16,500 mortgage foreclosures in Cook County. That figure leapt to 44,000 in 2008. Based on foreclosure filings for the first three months of 2009, mortgage foreclosures are expected to top 52,000 this year.
“If the filings and dispositions continue at the current pace,” said Kinnaird in her order, “it is estimated that there will be in excess of 92,000 cases pending as of December 31, 2010.”
The court will not permit any 2009 foreclosure filings from being scheduled for hearing and has cancelled already scheduled hearings in July and August so the tremendous backlog of cases can be heard.
Illinois now ranks seventh nationwide in foreclosures. Filings in the first quarter of 2009 in the 6 collar counties around Chicago increased between 25-70% over the last three months of 2008. The cause is the deepening economic crisis, massive job loss and families who have exhausted their small savings.
In the far western Chicago suburbs of the Fox River Valley 20% of real estate listings are of homes being sold due to foreclosures and short sales. “We were able to ignore (the foreclosures) for a while, but we can’t ignore it anymore,” said Donna McQuade, president of the Realtor Association of Fox Valley.
The crisis cries out for legislative action. The Helping Families Save Their Homes Act introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) is winding through Congress. The measure has passed the House and Senate and awaits a conference to resolve differences.
While the legislation contains some help for struggling homeowners, the finance industry led by the Mortgage Bankers Association, was able to gut the key provision from the Senate version supported by President Obama that would give bankruptcy judges the power to rewrite the terms of mortgage loans. This provision was kept in the House version and could be added later during conference committee negotiations if there is enough grassroots pressure.
“I hope people of this country will stand up and say to Congress, ‘You’ve got the wrong friends,’” said an angry Durbin. “Your friends (should be) the families across this country who are struggling in this economy, and they need a lot of help.
“And the banks, hard to believe in a time when we're facing a banking crisis that many of the banks created, are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. And they frankly own the place,” he said. Senate Republicans were united against the mortgage reform provision and were joined by 12 Democrats.
If the legislation stands as is homeowners will have to rely on the voluntary efforts of the banking industry for help. Based on the track record of the lending industry voluntary measures are ineffective. Some 75% of lenders rarely agree to workout plans that allow homeowners to maintain their homes.
Chicago – The foreclosure crisis is so severe in Cook County that a judge ordered a temporary halt to scheduling new foreclosure cases. The crisis is devastating Chicago’s African American and Latino communities, where one South Side neighborhood is experiencing a vacancy rate of 40%. But the crisis is now spreading to the 6 county suburban areas.
Housing advocates are demanding urgent action especially from the banks and lending corporations. So far there has been little relief although Illinois Governor Pat Quinn recently signed into law a measure that would give homeowners facing eviction 90 extra days to work out a borrowing plan with their lenders.
The organization Action Now has mobilized to block threatened evictions and has been able to keep several families in their homes. They are demanding action by the Cook County Board of Commissioners. According to Action Now, the courts have the power to permit mediation in foreclosure cases but the program goes unused.
“It is time for (the county) to push for a mediation program in the Courts and act in the interest of the taxpayers of Cook County. The taxpayers are paying for the courts to foreclose on the very people who are paying the property taxes now for the interests of often out of state and out of country banks. We are also paying for the eviction process, which results in thousands of vacant houses throughout our communities," said Denise Dixon, Executive Director of Action Now.
In her April 1 order to suspend scheduling, Chancery Division Presiding Judge Dorothy Kinnaird starkly illustrated the growing crisis. In 2005 there were nearly 16,500 mortgage foreclosures in Cook County. That figure leapt to 44,000 in 2008. Based on foreclosure filings for the first three months of 2009, mortgage foreclosures are expected to top 52,000 this year.
“If the filings and dispositions continue at the current pace,” said Kinnaird in her order, “it is estimated that there will be in excess of 92,000 cases pending as of December 31, 2010.”
The court will not permit any 2009 foreclosure filings from being scheduled for hearing and has cancelled already scheduled hearings in July and August so the tremendous backlog of cases can be heard.
Illinois now ranks seventh nationwide in foreclosures. Filings in the first quarter of 2009 in the 6 collar counties around Chicago increased between 25-70% over the last three months of 2008. The cause is the deepening economic crisis, massive job loss and families who have exhausted their small savings.
In the far western Chicago suburbs of the Fox River Valley 20% of real estate listings are of homes being sold due to foreclosures and short sales. “We were able to ignore (the foreclosures) for a while, but we can’t ignore it anymore,” said Donna McQuade, president of the Realtor Association of Fox Valley.
The crisis cries out for legislative action. The Helping Families Save Their Homes Act introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) is winding through Congress. The measure has passed the House and Senate and awaits a conference to resolve differences.
While the legislation contains some help for struggling homeowners, the finance industry led by the Mortgage Bankers Association, was able to gut the key provision from the Senate version supported by President Obama that would give bankruptcy judges the power to rewrite the terms of mortgage loans. This provision was kept in the House version and could be added later during conference committee negotiations if there is enough grassroots pressure.
“I hope people of this country will stand up and say to Congress, ‘You’ve got the wrong friends,’” said an angry Durbin. “Your friends (should be) the families across this country who are struggling in this economy, and they need a lot of help.
“And the banks, hard to believe in a time when we're facing a banking crisis that many of the banks created, are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. And they frankly own the place,” he said. Senate Republicans were united against the mortgage reform provision and were joined by 12 Democrats.
If the legislation stands as is homeowners will have to rely on the voluntary efforts of the banking industry for help. Based on the track record of the lending industry voluntary measures are ineffective. Some 75% of lenders rarely agree to workout plans that allow homeowners to maintain their homes.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Champaign Illinois residents fight to stay in homes
By Damien Matthew
Champaign, Ill. — Just South of the I-74 interchange onto Neil Street in Champaign, Illinois stands the Gateway Studios apartments. Gateway Studios, once a home to over 100 working class residents, was condemned by the City of Champaign on May 12th forcing its tenants to search for alternative housing or risk living in their vehicles or on the street.
At one time a hotel, Gateway Studios had been offering tenants weekly and monthly housing, featuring no leases and rent of $500-$600 per month which was highly competitive for the area. Gateway was condemned because of the owner’s (Donovan Acres, LLC of Tucson Arizona) inability to make utilities payments, owing over $44,000 in unpaid electric and gas bills. Utilities were supposed to be covered by the tenants rent payments.
Most residents are employed, though some are disabled. Some working families with children called Gateway their home until the de facto eviction in the late afternoon of the 12th. Residents were informed on the 8th that utilities service would be discontinued. They were told at that time that gas service (which provided their hot water) would be cut on the 11th and electricity would go on the 12th. They were told that the city would immediately condemn the complex as unsafe for human habitation and that residents must find alternative housing immediately following the discontinuation of electric service.
Through no fault of their own and having paid rent to their landlord, which included utilities, 100 people were forced to vacate their residences. Donovan Acres failed to make payments, so 100 working class brothers and sisters must suffer, given only three days notification of discontinuation of their utilities and four days notice of an effective eviction. The Rental Property Utility Service Act, an Illinois State law, requires that utilities companies inform tenants of multi-family housing facilities at least ten days prior to service disconnects. AmerenIP, the utilities provider, claimed that Gateway was not an apartment complex and thus they were not required to comply with the act. Ameren informed the landlord of the discontinuation of service, and felt that this was sufficient action to remain in compliance with the law.
Randall Cotton, a local activist, attempted to introduce a Gateway resident to discuss his situation with the city council during a scheduled study session meeting on the evening of the 12th. Champaign Mayor Gerald Schweighart informed Cotton that he was out of order, having not given notice of his intent to discuss this issue with sufficient time to add it to the council’s agenda for the evening. When Cotton suggested that it only take a few minutes of the council’s time and that the matter was urgent, Schweighart stated “We’ve already gone over this, Randall. I don’t care!”
The Gateway Studios case is one of many playing out across the country during these harsh financial times. It is an example of the bureaucratic and officious nature of the class struggle. Our working class brothers and sisters can attempt to seek and hold jobs. They can attempt to raise and provide for their families. They can do everything expected of them, and still their wellbeing as well as that of their loved ones is at the mercy of a system that puts profit and property before human need.
Champaign, Ill. — Just South of the I-74 interchange onto Neil Street in Champaign, Illinois stands the Gateway Studios apartments. Gateway Studios, once a home to over 100 working class residents, was condemned by the City of Champaign on May 12th forcing its tenants to search for alternative housing or risk living in their vehicles or on the street.
At one time a hotel, Gateway Studios had been offering tenants weekly and monthly housing, featuring no leases and rent of $500-$600 per month which was highly competitive for the area. Gateway was condemned because of the owner’s (Donovan Acres, LLC of Tucson Arizona) inability to make utilities payments, owing over $44,000 in unpaid electric and gas bills. Utilities were supposed to be covered by the tenants rent payments.
Most residents are employed, though some are disabled. Some working families with children called Gateway their home until the de facto eviction in the late afternoon of the 12th. Residents were informed on the 8th that utilities service would be discontinued. They were told at that time that gas service (which provided their hot water) would be cut on the 11th and electricity would go on the 12th. They were told that the city would immediately condemn the complex as unsafe for human habitation and that residents must find alternative housing immediately following the discontinuation of electric service.
Through no fault of their own and having paid rent to their landlord, which included utilities, 100 people were forced to vacate their residences. Donovan Acres failed to make payments, so 100 working class brothers and sisters must suffer, given only three days notification of discontinuation of their utilities and four days notice of an effective eviction. The Rental Property Utility Service Act, an Illinois State law, requires that utilities companies inform tenants of multi-family housing facilities at least ten days prior to service disconnects. AmerenIP, the utilities provider, claimed that Gateway was not an apartment complex and thus they were not required to comply with the act. Ameren informed the landlord of the discontinuation of service, and felt that this was sufficient action to remain in compliance with the law.
Randall Cotton, a local activist, attempted to introduce a Gateway resident to discuss his situation with the city council during a scheduled study session meeting on the evening of the 12th. Champaign Mayor Gerald Schweighart informed Cotton that he was out of order, having not given notice of his intent to discuss this issue with sufficient time to add it to the council’s agenda for the evening. When Cotton suggested that it only take a few minutes of the council’s time and that the matter was urgent, Schweighart stated “We’ve already gone over this, Randall. I don’t care!”
The Gateway Studios case is one of many playing out across the country during these harsh financial times. It is an example of the bureaucratic and officious nature of the class struggle. Our working class brothers and sisters can attempt to seek and hold jobs. They can attempt to raise and provide for their families. They can do everything expected of them, and still their wellbeing as well as that of their loved ones is at the mercy of a system that puts profit and property before human need.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Hartmarx workers vote to sit in if Wells Fargo closes factory
By Pepe Lozano
People's Weekly World
DES PLAINES, Ill. — Hundreds of union workers packed a lunchroom at the Hart Schaffner & Marx manufacturing plant here May 11 and voted unanimously to stage a sit-in at their factory if a new owner tries to shut it down. The company, also known as Hartmarx Corp., employs 600 people here and is one of the last and largest remaining suit makers in the U.S.
“They want to shut down our jobs and we are not going to let that happen,” said Ruby Sims at the midday rally. Sims has worked at Hartmarx for 32 years. “If the bank wants to shut us down then we will sit in. We are going to do whatever it takes to save our jobs,” she said. “Are you with us,” she shouted to the sea of workers packed inside the large room. In a loud, high-spirited cheer they shouted back, “Yes!”
The workers, represented by Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, are fighting to keep their jobs after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January. The filing came after Wells Fargo bank, Hartmarx’s chief lender, reduced the company’s credit line.
The company is in the process of being sold. Union leaders fear the new owners being sought by Wells Fargo will shut down the operation and liquidate the business, which has been operating since 1872.
Wells Fargo received a $25 billion federal bailout through the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Critics charge that money was supposed to be used to help stabilize the financial markets, make credit more readily available to working families, and ultimately, save jobs, not lose them. The workers here say that they, not the banks, need to get bailed out.
Hartmarx has manufacturing plants here and in Rock Island, Ill., as well as a warehouse in Indiana. It is the largest maker of men’s tailored clothing and one of, if not the only, men’s topcoat manufacturer in North America. The Chicago-based company employs 3,500 nationwide.
It has become known for making suits worn by President Barack Obama. Obama wore one of the company’s tuxedos at his inauguration
Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.), who spent 13 years cutting linings for men’s suits at the Rock Island Hartmarx plant, told the workers the suit he was wearing was made at Hartmarx and said he has four more just like it. He praised the workers for their hard work in making such wonderful American union-made products.
Wells Fargo will have a fight on its hands, Hare said.
“If Wells Fargo tries to liquidate this great company, I promise I will be their worst nightmare on the floor of House of Representatives,” he said, declaring that banks that got federal bailout money have a “moral obligation” to workers like those at Hartmarx.
“These workers are the faces of this country. This is tough work and I know you work hard each and every day,” said Hare. “I’m going to send letter after letter, make call after call, because I am not going to give up on this fight.”
Many at Hartmarx have been working at the Des Plaines plant for decades. They come from all parts of the world.
Dorothy Butcher, who is African American, has worked at the plant for 43 years. “Where am I going to find another job?” she asked. “It’s hard enough for young people to find jobs these days.”
Antoniatta Mendoza, originally from Italy, has worked at Hartmarx for the last 25 years.
“It hurts that this company may close,” she said. “I have a son in college and I don’t know how I am going to afford my mortgage. I have kids to feed. It’s not right. We all need to work to support our families.)
Maria Figueroa has worked here for 20 years. “Now I have to struggle some more just to survive,” she said. “Things are not easy now. I thought at least I have a job to pay my bills, but without that, what am I going to do?”
Martin Padilla, originally from Colombia, has been at Hartmarx for five years. He said he and co-workers came to the lunchroom rally “to support our union and secure our future.” He added, “We’ve been in business for the last 120 years and hopefully we can be in business for the next 120 years.”
Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias assured the workers he will terminate any state business with Wells Fargo unless the bank stops trying to liquidate the company. Wells Fargo is custodian of an $8 billion state portfolio and holds the state treasurer’s office cash and other financial assets.
Workers at Hartmarx are borrowing a page from the playbook of workers at Chicago’s Republic Windows and Doors factory. In that situation, Bank of America cut off credit to the company, leading to its closure last December. The workers and their union fought back, staging a six-day occupation at the plant, which gained national and international attention including support from the Obama administration. The workers eventually won a settlement with the bank, securing sick leave and vacation pay they were owed, and health benefits. Today, new owners have reopened the plant and all 260 former Republic workers are in the process of being re-hired, represented by their union.
The Hartmarx workers’ struggle signal what could be a growing cascade of future battles if working families and their unions continue to be hit by company closings perpetrated by banks or other financial institutions.
Unite Here President Bruce Raynor told the Hartmarx workers they are at the center of today’s labor struggles and represent the movement’s backbone.
“We are not asking for charity,” said Raynor. “We are willing to work and we want that right to be respected. The people who got this country in trouble in the first place are the giant banks and now it’s time to bail out the workers. We will not go down quietly.”
plozano @ pww.org
People's Weekly World
DES PLAINES, Ill. — Hundreds of union workers packed a lunchroom at the Hart Schaffner & Marx manufacturing plant here May 11 and voted unanimously to stage a sit-in at their factory if a new owner tries to shut it down. The company, also known as Hartmarx Corp., employs 600 people here and is one of the last and largest remaining suit makers in the U.S.
“They want to shut down our jobs and we are not going to let that happen,” said Ruby Sims at the midday rally. Sims has worked at Hartmarx for 32 years. “If the bank wants to shut us down then we will sit in. We are going to do whatever it takes to save our jobs,” she said. “Are you with us,” she shouted to the sea of workers packed inside the large room. In a loud, high-spirited cheer they shouted back, “Yes!”
The workers, represented by Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, are fighting to keep their jobs after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January. The filing came after Wells Fargo bank, Hartmarx’s chief lender, reduced the company’s credit line.
The company is in the process of being sold. Union leaders fear the new owners being sought by Wells Fargo will shut down the operation and liquidate the business, which has been operating since 1872.
Wells Fargo received a $25 billion federal bailout through the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Critics charge that money was supposed to be used to help stabilize the financial markets, make credit more readily available to working families, and ultimately, save jobs, not lose them. The workers here say that they, not the banks, need to get bailed out.
Hartmarx has manufacturing plants here and in Rock Island, Ill., as well as a warehouse in Indiana. It is the largest maker of men’s tailored clothing and one of, if not the only, men’s topcoat manufacturer in North America. The Chicago-based company employs 3,500 nationwide.
It has become known for making suits worn by President Barack Obama. Obama wore one of the company’s tuxedos at his inauguration
Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.), who spent 13 years cutting linings for men’s suits at the Rock Island Hartmarx plant, told the workers the suit he was wearing was made at Hartmarx and said he has four more just like it. He praised the workers for their hard work in making such wonderful American union-made products.
Wells Fargo will have a fight on its hands, Hare said.
“If Wells Fargo tries to liquidate this great company, I promise I will be their worst nightmare on the floor of House of Representatives,” he said, declaring that banks that got federal bailout money have a “moral obligation” to workers like those at Hartmarx.
“These workers are the faces of this country. This is tough work and I know you work hard each and every day,” said Hare. “I’m going to send letter after letter, make call after call, because I am not going to give up on this fight.”
Many at Hartmarx have been working at the Des Plaines plant for decades. They come from all parts of the world.
Dorothy Butcher, who is African American, has worked at the plant for 43 years. “Where am I going to find another job?” she asked. “It’s hard enough for young people to find jobs these days.”
Antoniatta Mendoza, originally from Italy, has worked at Hartmarx for the last 25 years.
“It hurts that this company may close,” she said. “I have a son in college and I don’t know how I am going to afford my mortgage. I have kids to feed. It’s not right. We all need to work to support our families.)
Maria Figueroa has worked here for 20 years. “Now I have to struggle some more just to survive,” she said. “Things are not easy now. I thought at least I have a job to pay my bills, but without that, what am I going to do?”
Martin Padilla, originally from Colombia, has been at Hartmarx for five years. He said he and co-workers came to the lunchroom rally “to support our union and secure our future.” He added, “We’ve been in business for the last 120 years and hopefully we can be in business for the next 120 years.”
Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias assured the workers he will terminate any state business with Wells Fargo unless the bank stops trying to liquidate the company. Wells Fargo is custodian of an $8 billion state portfolio and holds the state treasurer’s office cash and other financial assets.
Workers at Hartmarx are borrowing a page from the playbook of workers at Chicago’s Republic Windows and Doors factory. In that situation, Bank of America cut off credit to the company, leading to its closure last December. The workers and their union fought back, staging a six-day occupation at the plant, which gained national and international attention including support from the Obama administration. The workers eventually won a settlement with the bank, securing sick leave and vacation pay they were owed, and health benefits. Today, new owners have reopened the plant and all 260 former Republic workers are in the process of being re-hired, represented by their union.
The Hartmarx workers’ struggle signal what could be a growing cascade of future battles if working families and their unions continue to be hit by company closings perpetrated by banks or other financial institutions.
Unite Here President Bruce Raynor told the Hartmarx workers they are at the center of today’s labor struggles and represent the movement’s backbone.
“We are not asking for charity,” said Raynor. “We are willing to work and we want that right to be respected. The people who got this country in trouble in the first place are the giant banks and now it’s time to bail out the workers. We will not go down quietly.”
plozano @ pww.org
Monday, May 11, 2009
Hart-Marx workers: "We'll sit in to save our jobs"
From Workers United:
Chicago - Today, 500 workers at the Chicago-based apparel firm Hart Schaffner & Marx held a rally and historic "sit in" vote to fight for their jobs as major lender and TARP fund recipient Wells Fargo & Co. pushes for a bankruptcy closure of the facility.
"Everyone at the plant is worried about their future. It all hinges on Wells Fargo. They have to do the right thing and allow this company to be reorganized--so jobs can be saved," explained Ruby Simms, a 32-year veteran of the Hart Schaffner & Marx factory in Des Plaines, IL.
The workers voted in favor of a "sit in" style action, which means that if Wells Fargo or a buyer tries to begin liquidation or close the factory, the workers will respond by physically remaining at their job site.
The struggle of the Hartmarx workers mirrors that of the 250 Republic Windows and Doors workers who saved their own jobs last December when Bank of America tried to shutter their doors. State and national leaders are increasingly standing up for Hartmarx workers, members of the union Workers United (an SEIU affiliate), and slamming Wells Fargo-a $25 billion taxpayer bailout recipient-for shortsightedly refusing to invest in U.S. companies and workers.
Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has vowed, "Unless the company remains open, [Wells Fargo] will not be doing business with the state of Illinois any longer."
"Wells Fargo has received $25 billion in taxpayer assistance through TARP. In other words, the workers Wells Fargo may throw out on the street have been subsidizing its operations during these tough economic times. So much for returning the favor," said Member of Congress Phil Hare, who also worked in the men's clothing industry as a cutter for 13 years.
The Hartmarx workers' struggle sounds the alarm on what could be a cascade of job losses and company closures perpetuated by U.S. financial institutions. "Voting to sit in, these workers are standing up for all of us," says Noel Beasley, Director of the Chicago/Midwest Regional Joint Board and Executive Vice President of Workers United, the union that represents the Hartmarx workers. "The future of the economy and the future of this country are all about good jobs. The vote today says Hartmarx workers are going to hold banks accountable for how they spend taxpayers' money and how they contribute to the future of our economy."
Chicago-based Hartmarx, the largest menswear manufacturing company in the nation, filed for bankruptcy protection in January after U.S. banks curtailed its lines of credit. The clothing maker employs 3,500 across the nation, with about 1,000 of its employees located in Rock Island and suburban Des Plaines where suits for President Obama are made.
Tom Balanoff, president of the SEIU Illinois State Council, called on America's banks to stand by working women and men: "This is a historical moment. This is where workers take a stand against shortsighted banking practices that cost American jobs. Workers don't want financial institutions like Bank of America and now Wells Fargo hurting their livelihoods. Our banking system should be helping to save jobs."
###
Workers United, an SEIU affiliate, is a union representing more than 150,000 workers in the US and Canada who work in the laundry, food service, hospitality, gaming, apparel, textiles manufacturing and distribution industries. Workers United is a new union with a history of more than 100 years, and includes members from many predecessor unions, including the ILGWU, ACTWU, UNITE and UNITE HERE.
SEIU - With 2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers-not just corporations and CEOs-benefit from today's global economy.
Chicago - Today, 500 workers at the Chicago-based apparel firm Hart Schaffner & Marx held a rally and historic "sit in" vote to fight for their jobs as major lender and TARP fund recipient Wells Fargo & Co. pushes for a bankruptcy closure of the facility.
"Everyone at the plant is worried about their future. It all hinges on Wells Fargo. They have to do the right thing and allow this company to be reorganized--so jobs can be saved," explained Ruby Simms, a 32-year veteran of the Hart Schaffner & Marx factory in Des Plaines, IL.
The workers voted in favor of a "sit in" style action, which means that if Wells Fargo or a buyer tries to begin liquidation or close the factory, the workers will respond by physically remaining at their job site.
The struggle of the Hartmarx workers mirrors that of the 250 Republic Windows and Doors workers who saved their own jobs last December when Bank of America tried to shutter their doors. State and national leaders are increasingly standing up for Hartmarx workers, members of the union Workers United (an SEIU affiliate), and slamming Wells Fargo-a $25 billion taxpayer bailout recipient-for shortsightedly refusing to invest in U.S. companies and workers.
Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has vowed, "Unless the company remains open, [Wells Fargo] will not be doing business with the state of Illinois any longer."
"Wells Fargo has received $25 billion in taxpayer assistance through TARP. In other words, the workers Wells Fargo may throw out on the street have been subsidizing its operations during these tough economic times. So much for returning the favor," said Member of Congress Phil Hare, who also worked in the men's clothing industry as a cutter for 13 years.
The Hartmarx workers' struggle sounds the alarm on what could be a cascade of job losses and company closures perpetuated by U.S. financial institutions. "Voting to sit in, these workers are standing up for all of us," says Noel Beasley, Director of the Chicago/Midwest Regional Joint Board and Executive Vice President of Workers United, the union that represents the Hartmarx workers. "The future of the economy and the future of this country are all about good jobs. The vote today says Hartmarx workers are going to hold banks accountable for how they spend taxpayers' money and how they contribute to the future of our economy."
Chicago-based Hartmarx, the largest menswear manufacturing company in the nation, filed for bankruptcy protection in January after U.S. banks curtailed its lines of credit. The clothing maker employs 3,500 across the nation, with about 1,000 of its employees located in Rock Island and suburban Des Plaines where suits for President Obama are made.
Tom Balanoff, president of the SEIU Illinois State Council, called on America's banks to stand by working women and men: "This is a historical moment. This is where workers take a stand against shortsighted banking practices that cost American jobs. Workers don't want financial institutions like Bank of America and now Wells Fargo hurting their livelihoods. Our banking system should be helping to save jobs."
###
Workers United, an SEIU affiliate, is a union representing more than 150,000 workers in the US and Canada who work in the laundry, food service, hospitality, gaming, apparel, textiles manufacturing and distribution industries. Workers United is a new union with a history of more than 100 years, and includes members from many predecessor unions, including the ILGWU, ACTWU, UNITE and UNITE HERE.
SEIU - With 2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers-not just corporations and CEOs-benefit from today's global economy.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Chicago budget crisis can't be solved on workers' backs
Mayor Daley has once again decided the best way out of the Chicago budget crisis is to demand concessions from the city's workforce. The yawning budget gap has grown to $300 million with no end in sight, as the economic crisis deepens.
Daley ordered all non-unionized city personnel to take 17 days of unpaid furloughs, all of the formerly paid holidays. Now he's focusing on the 33,000 unionized workforce for the same concessions. Otherwise, he says, 1600 city workers and the services they provide will have to go.
Mayor Daley has painted himself into a quandry because he's an ardent believe in the power of the "free market" and neo-liberal policies to drive economic development. Capitalist investment will pull the city and country out of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Someone forgot to tell Daley these policies got us in this mess and they lie in a heap of rubble.
By privatizing the Skyway, parking meters and parking garages, Daley is sacrificing short term gain for long term loss of revenues. The crisis of revenues will only deepen in the years ahead.
Attacking the purchasing power of working families through furloughs and layoffs will only deepen the crisis and accelerate the downward spiral.
An immediate solution is to tap the "rainy day" fund, as the city's labor movement has said, we are living through an "economic hurricane." That includes the estimated $2.1 billion from the sale of the Skyway and the parking meters and money hidden in the various TIFF accounts. Let's open the books!
What about the city's well heeled financial kingpins? Where's the sacrifice being asked of them? Not a word! What about an emergency tax on the wealthiest families? Oh, it would drive them from the city. The largest financial institutions? The Chicago Board of Trade? Their investment provides the jobs.
Hogwash.
Daley should be leading the charge to get congress to pass an additional federal bailout for the cities and states and another stimulus package to put the growing army of unemployed Chicagoans back to work before he asks for more concessions.
Daley should be howling about the need for a single payer health care system to relieve the city of the full cost.
Putting Chicagoans back to work is the best way to restore a steady revenue stream, but government action is essential. And the best way for that is the stepped up intervention of the federal government.
The people should rally around the labor movement and forge a new course for the city.
Daley ordered all non-unionized city personnel to take 17 days of unpaid furloughs, all of the formerly paid holidays. Now he's focusing on the 33,000 unionized workforce for the same concessions. Otherwise, he says, 1600 city workers and the services they provide will have to go.
Mayor Daley has painted himself into a quandry because he's an ardent believe in the power of the "free market" and neo-liberal policies to drive economic development. Capitalist investment will pull the city and country out of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Someone forgot to tell Daley these policies got us in this mess and they lie in a heap of rubble.
By privatizing the Skyway, parking meters and parking garages, Daley is sacrificing short term gain for long term loss of revenues. The crisis of revenues will only deepen in the years ahead.
Attacking the purchasing power of working families through furloughs and layoffs will only deepen the crisis and accelerate the downward spiral.
An immediate solution is to tap the "rainy day" fund, as the city's labor movement has said, we are living through an "economic hurricane." That includes the estimated $2.1 billion from the sale of the Skyway and the parking meters and money hidden in the various TIFF accounts. Let's open the books!
What about the city's well heeled financial kingpins? Where's the sacrifice being asked of them? Not a word! What about an emergency tax on the wealthiest families? Oh, it would drive them from the city. The largest financial institutions? The Chicago Board of Trade? Their investment provides the jobs.
Hogwash.
Daley should be leading the charge to get congress to pass an additional federal bailout for the cities and states and another stimulus package to put the growing army of unemployed Chicagoans back to work before he asks for more concessions.
Daley should be howling about the need for a single payer health care system to relieve the city of the full cost.
Putting Chicagoans back to work is the best way to restore a steady revenue stream, but government action is essential. And the best way for that is the stepped up intervention of the federal government.
The people should rally around the labor movement and forge a new course for the city.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Hartmarx workers prepared to sit-in if Wells Fargo closes their factory
By Pepe Lozano
People's Weekly World
Des Plaines, Ill. — Six-hundred union workers at the Hart Schaffner & Marx’s manufacturing plant here, which is one of the last and largest U.S. suit makers, are demanding it’s time that they, and not the banks, get bailed out. The workers are fighting to keep their jobs after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January. The filing followed reductions in its credit line by the bank.
The company, otherwise known as Hartmarx Corp., is in the process of being sold and has manufacturing pants here and in Rock Island, Ill., as well as a warehouse in Indiana. Union leaders fear the new owner being sought out by the company’s chief lender, Wells Fargo & Co., is planning to shut down the operation and liquidate the business, which has been operating since 1872. Nearly 1,000 people could be jobless.
Wells Fargo received a $25 billion federal bailout in taxpayer assistance through the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Critics charge that money was supposed to be used to help stabilize the financial markets, make credit more readily available to working families, and ultimately, save jobs, not lose them.
Many of the workers at Hartmarx have been working at the Des Plaines plant for decades and come from all parts of the world.
“This company has blessed us for a lot of years,” said Ruby Sims, one of the workers during a rally at the plant May 7.
“I’ve been here for 31 years. If you lay me off, then lay me off, but don’t close the door on me,” said Sims.
Sims said many workers at the company have small children and many, including her, are single parents.
“Give us a break,” said Sims. “Give us that second chance that we need because we need survival and we need it right now, not next year, but today,” she said.
Tom Balanoff, president of the Service Employees International Union, Local 1, said Wells Fargo has to make a decision to either sell the company to owners who want to keep operations running or sell to owners who want to put people out of work.
“It’s time to make a long term investment,” said Balanoff. “They need to give the money to an investor who is going to keep this plant open and keep jobs here and keep our economy moving in the right direction,” he said.
Balanoff added, “We know that we’re in the biggest economic crisis of our lifetime. We need to figure out what type of recovery we are going to have. Are we going to have a recovery for the guys at the top who created this problem or are we going to have a recovery for working families?”
Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is threatening to pull state business from Wells Fargo unless the bank stops trying to liquidate the company. Wells Fargo is custodian of an $8 billion state portfolio and is responsible for holding the state treasurer’s office cash and other financial assets including bookkeeping and settlements.
“We want to make sure that state and federal businesses invest in American companies and in American jobs,” said Giannoulias at the rally.
The Hartmarx Company is the largest maker of men’s tailored clothing and one of, if not the only, men’s topcoat manufacturer in North America. Hartmarx employs 3,500, including 1,000 at its plants in Des Plaines and Rock Island.
U.S. Reps. Phil Hare and Jan Schakowsky, both Democrats in Ill., have expressed support for the workers and plan to fight alongside them to keep their jobs and the plant open.
Union leaders say Wells Fargo has a fight on its hands. They claim the Hartmarx workers are prepared to stage a sit-in at the Des Plaines plant similar to what the Republic Windows and Doors workers did last January.
In that situation, Bank of America cut off credit to the Chicago based Republic Windows factory, leading to the closure of that company. The workers and their union fought back, staging a six-day occupation at the plant, which gained national and international attention. The workers eventually won a settlement with the bank, securing sick leave and vacation pay they were owed, including health care benefits. Today, new owners have reopened the plant and all the former Republic workers are expected to be rehired, represented by their union.
Many claim the victory at Republic Windows has inspired leaders in the labor movement, especially workers at the Hartmarx Company. They are ready to borrow a page from the Republic Windows playbook and plan to fight for their future too.
Joe Costigan, treasurer of Workers United also addressed the crowd saying, “We’re proud to make the very best suits in the country.” He continued, “We know they’re the very best because the President of the United States wears our suits.”
President Barack Obama, a buyer and fan of Hartmarx suits, wore one of the company’s signature tuxedos at his inauguration.
“We’re here to tell Wells Fargo that this company has been in business in the city of Chicago and the Chicago area for 120 years and that we’re going to be here for another 120 years,” said Costigan.
plozano @pww.org
People's Weekly World
Des Plaines, Ill. — Six-hundred union workers at the Hart Schaffner & Marx’s manufacturing plant here, which is one of the last and largest U.S. suit makers, are demanding it’s time that they, and not the banks, get bailed out. The workers are fighting to keep their jobs after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January. The filing followed reductions in its credit line by the bank.
The company, otherwise known as Hartmarx Corp., is in the process of being sold and has manufacturing pants here and in Rock Island, Ill., as well as a warehouse in Indiana. Union leaders fear the new owner being sought out by the company’s chief lender, Wells Fargo & Co., is planning to shut down the operation and liquidate the business, which has been operating since 1872. Nearly 1,000 people could be jobless.
Wells Fargo received a $25 billion federal bailout in taxpayer assistance through the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Critics charge that money was supposed to be used to help stabilize the financial markets, make credit more readily available to working families, and ultimately, save jobs, not lose them.
Many of the workers at Hartmarx have been working at the Des Plaines plant for decades and come from all parts of the world.
“This company has blessed us for a lot of years,” said Ruby Sims, one of the workers during a rally at the plant May 7.
“I’ve been here for 31 years. If you lay me off, then lay me off, but don’t close the door on me,” said Sims.
Sims said many workers at the company have small children and many, including her, are single parents.
“Give us a break,” said Sims. “Give us that second chance that we need because we need survival and we need it right now, not next year, but today,” she said.
Tom Balanoff, president of the Service Employees International Union, Local 1, said Wells Fargo has to make a decision to either sell the company to owners who want to keep operations running or sell to owners who want to put people out of work.
“It’s time to make a long term investment,” said Balanoff. “They need to give the money to an investor who is going to keep this plant open and keep jobs here and keep our economy moving in the right direction,” he said.
Balanoff added, “We know that we’re in the biggest economic crisis of our lifetime. We need to figure out what type of recovery we are going to have. Are we going to have a recovery for the guys at the top who created this problem or are we going to have a recovery for working families?”
Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is threatening to pull state business from Wells Fargo unless the bank stops trying to liquidate the company. Wells Fargo is custodian of an $8 billion state portfolio and is responsible for holding the state treasurer’s office cash and other financial assets including bookkeeping and settlements.
“We want to make sure that state and federal businesses invest in American companies and in American jobs,” said Giannoulias at the rally.
The Hartmarx Company is the largest maker of men’s tailored clothing and one of, if not the only, men’s topcoat manufacturer in North America. Hartmarx employs 3,500, including 1,000 at its plants in Des Plaines and Rock Island.
U.S. Reps. Phil Hare and Jan Schakowsky, both Democrats in Ill., have expressed support for the workers and plan to fight alongside them to keep their jobs and the plant open.
Union leaders say Wells Fargo has a fight on its hands. They claim the Hartmarx workers are prepared to stage a sit-in at the Des Plaines plant similar to what the Republic Windows and Doors workers did last January.
In that situation, Bank of America cut off credit to the Chicago based Republic Windows factory, leading to the closure of that company. The workers and their union fought back, staging a six-day occupation at the plant, which gained national and international attention. The workers eventually won a settlement with the bank, securing sick leave and vacation pay they were owed, including health care benefits. Today, new owners have reopened the plant and all the former Republic workers are expected to be rehired, represented by their union.
Many claim the victory at Republic Windows has inspired leaders in the labor movement, especially workers at the Hartmarx Company. They are ready to borrow a page from the Republic Windows playbook and plan to fight for their future too.
Joe Costigan, treasurer of Workers United also addressed the crowd saying, “We’re proud to make the very best suits in the country.” He continued, “We know they’re the very best because the President of the United States wears our suits.”
President Barack Obama, a buyer and fan of Hartmarx suits, wore one of the company’s signature tuxedos at his inauguration.
“We’re here to tell Wells Fargo that this company has been in business in the city of Chicago and the Chicago area for 120 years and that we’re going to be here for another 120 years,” said Costigan.
plozano @pww.org
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)