Revolt on Goose Island: The Chicago Factory Takeover and What It Says About the Economic Crisis PDF
Preview Revolt on Goose Island: The Chicago Factory Takeover and What It Says About the Economic Crisis
PRAISE FOR REVOLT ON GOOSE ISLAND “Revolt … manages to tell the story of the six-day occupation, its historical precedents, and what it could mean for the future of the labor movement in full. For a book turned around in such a short time, it digs ably into the nuances of the closure, including the questions regarding the blame.” —Jonathan Messinger, TimeOut Chicago “Brisk, compelling … Deftly interweaves her narrative with sketches of union and labor history.” —Kate Schmidt, Chicago Reader “A clear and emotionally compelling account of the Chicago factory takeover that captivated national attention … A gripping narrative.” —NewCity “There is much talk about ‘audacity’ these days, but true chutzpah is when the workers take over the factory and take on the bank. Kari Lydersen’s invaluable account of the Republic sit-down strike is an instruction manual for worker dignity.” —Mike Davis, author of Buda’s Wagon and City of Quartz “A riveting tale from beginning to end.” —Bookslut “I’ve feared for some time that labor reporting would vanish. But this book restores my faith that there remain reporters with an eye and a heart and a thirst to tell important stories about workers in the best tradition of good labor writing.” —Stephen Franklin, former labor writer, Chicago Tribune “Lydersen demonstrates that journalism still has the power to sway both hearts and minds.” —Brian Awehali, LiP Magazine “Provides useful context and is a helpful tool to put the strike in a broader understanding of the current moment … Revolt on Goose Island is a highly useful primer on what some say could be the spark to revive a moribund labor movement that has been on its heels for nearly three decades.” —Jeff Kelly Lowenstein, lecturer, Columbia College REVOLT ON GOOSE ISLAND REVISED EDITION © Kari Lydersen, 2009, 2014 First Melville House Edition: June 2009 Melville House Publishing 145 Plymouth Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 and 8 Blackstock Mews Islington London N4 2BT mhpbooks.com facebook.com/mhpbooks @melvillehouse Book Design: Kelly Blair ISBN: 978-1-61219395-3 (ebook) The Library of Congress has cataloged the paperback edition of this book as follows: Lydersen, Kari. Revolt on Goose Island / Kari Lydersen. p. cm. ISBN 978-1-933633-82-4 1. Sit-down strikes—Illinois—Chicago. I. Title. HD5474.L94 2009 331.892’8901820977311—dc22 2009016787 v3.1 Dedicated to Franklin Rosemont (1943–2009) Author, poet, publisher, activist, surrealist and idealist who chronicled the labor movement with creativity and joy. CONTENTS Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Preface 1. The Stakeout 2. A Labor Battle in a Labor City 3. Shutting the Door on Republic 4. The Revolt 5. A Window of Opportunity 6. Getting Serious 7. On the Road to Resistance and Recovery Epilogue A Note on Sources Acknowledgments Notes UE union Local 1110 President Armando Robles addresses the media about negotiations with Bank of America and Republic Windows & Doors on the fourth day of the sit-in at the factory. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) PREFACE In early December 2008, headlines around the world focused on the workers of the Republic Windows & Doors factory in Chicago, Illinois. There, 250 workers had been laid off after the abrupt shutdown of their factory. The closing wasn’t unusual—it came in the midst of the largest economic collapse since the Great Depression, at a moment when every day brought news of more job losses. Just days before the closing, the U.S. Labor Department announced more than a half million job cuts. But the company’s workers did something unusual. Represented by the UE labor union, they occupied the factory, located on Goose Island in the Chicago River, and refused to leave until they were paid for accrued vacation time and 60 days of federally mandated severance. Congressmen, local politicians and President-Elect Barack Obama spoke out in support of the workers. Soon-to-be-impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich even made his last public appearance at the factory before being arrested on massive corruption charges. Republic owner Richard Gillman blamed Bank of America for the closing, saying the bank had cut off credit to the company. The truth proved to be more complicated, but blaming the bank struck a chord with Americans fed up with corporate greed and skeptical of the $700 billion federal bank bailout, which members of Congress and the sitting administration had promised would unfreeze the credit markets. Bank of America had received $25 billion in bailout funds two months before Republic closed; it would receive another $20 billion soon after. “You got bailed out, we got sold out!” became a rallying cry for people around the country protesting in support of the Republic workers and against the bank. The workers’ story captured the imagination and empathy of a nation caught in an escalating economic crisis. People who had felt secure in their jobs and firmly ensconced in the middle class were suddenly
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