Chicago Factory Workers Protest (VIDEO)

Chicago Factory Workers Protest (VIDEO)


UPDATE

A meeting to resolve the sit-in Monday night ended without success, but representatives from Bank of America, Republic and the union agreed to reconvene Tuesday. Nevertheless, U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez said he is "optimistic" and felt the meeting "went very very well."

Watch Gutierrez's remarks:

Governor Rod Blagojevich on Monday asked all Illinois government agencies to suspend any business dealings with Bank of America after the bank canceled the financing of Republic Windows & Doors, which led to the company defaulting on payments owed to its laid off workers.

Though the governor never explained the extent of the state's dealings with BOA, other Chicago politicians and labor leaders quickly echoed the governor's call.

A group of Chicago Aldermen, led by Ald. Joe Moore (49th), introduced an ordinance calling for the city to end its business with Bank of America. Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley said he would introduce a similar ordinance for Cook County at the same news conference.

Watch the news conference:

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who visited the factory Sunday, discussed the sit-in on MSNBC's "Hardball" Monday:

On his way into the Monday meeting between BOA, company, labor and government officials, State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias said:


"We're here today to figure out what the right thing to do for the people of Illinois is and for the workers."

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