Hart, Schaffner and Marx-ism

[DancingLarry]

The Chicagoland factory whose suits one Barack Obama wears is being threatened with closure with the cutoff of its credit line by bailout recipient Wells Fargo. (http://www.workersunitedunion.org/content/hartmarx-workers-vote-sit-save-their-jobs-tarp-recipient-wells-fargo-threatens-close-obama-s)


May 11, 2009




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.

[DancingLarry]

TvCBfs5CN9M

[Red Rebel]

This is freaking awesome news! I just read about it on the SEIU blog (http://www.seiu.org/2009/05/hartmarx-workers-vote-to-sit-in-to-save-their-jobs-as-wells-fargo-threatens-closure.php). As Mao said, "a single spark can spark a prarie fire" and I'm glad to say that Republic Windows and Doors workers might have been that "spark" that the United States (and perhaps abroad but to a lesser extent) labor movement needed.

[DancingLarry]

Don't know about prairie fires (yet), but this one is now spreading. The workers of Hartmarx's Rochester, NY subsidiary Hickey-Freeman have now voted to also sit in (http://www.workersunitedunion.org/content/rochester-hickey-freeman-workers-vote-stage-sit-if-bailed-out-bank-attempts-close-company) if Wells Fargo tries to force the company into closure.

[cyu]

Keep 'em coming Larry, keep 'em coming! :thumbup:

[blackstone]

I love HSM suits. So i support them fighting to keep making them. :cool:

[DancingLarry]

hat tip to Pawn Power (http://www.revleft.com/vb/worker-occupation-and-t109020/index.html) for this link:


Democracy Now on factory occupations (http://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/15/fire_the_boss_naomi_klein_avi)

[DancingLarry]

"A Touch of History in the Hartmarx Struggle" (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-tue-greising-hartmarx-0512-may12,0,4053056.column)

excerpts:


They came from many countries to work at the Hart Schaffner & Marx plant. They shouted and jeered at the capitalist powers arrayed against them. They became a political sensation with national impact.

Sound familiar?

Perhaps so. But the events just described are not those that led some 600 workers to stage a boisterous rally Monday at the Hartmarx Corp. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/economy-business-finance/hartmarx-corporation-ORCRP007094.topic) plant in suburban Des Plaines (http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/us/illinois/cook-county/des-plaines-PLGEO100100501350000.topic). Rather, they took place in 1910 at the famed suitmaker's West Side Chicago production plant. That strike led to the creation of the United Garment Workers union.

Life, and the union movement, have changed substantially since then.

At least three workers died in the Chicago garment strike a century ago.


Hartmarx workers learned from those at Republic Windows and Doors, who staged a sit-in last year after the company shut abruptly and refused to pay severance. Bank of America (http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/economy-business-finance/bank-of-america-corp.-ORCRP001609.topic) -- a recipient of federal bailout funds -- eventually made money available.

Now Hartmarx workers are leaning on Wells Fargo & Co. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/economy-business-finance/wells-fargo-%26-co.-ORCRP016609.topic) -- the bank providing the funding to keep Hartmarx in business -- to make certain the right buyer winds up with control of the company.

Yucaipa Cos. of Los Angeles and Emerisque from London have shown an interest in keeping Hartmarx in business. But Mistral Equity Partners of New York -- the bidder the workers are worried about -- has indicated it would do better by selling the company's brand names and shutting down its operations, say sources knowledgeable about the talks.


Bob Bruno, an assistant professor of labor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/education/colleges-universities/university-of-illinois-at-chicago-OREDU0000154.topic), said unions are taking advantage of the fact that the banks have taken government money and may need more of it in the future. "The banks are exposed," Bruno said. "The unions are smart enough to see where they can apply the pressure."