I wrote a diary yesterday about the workers who made the suits the President wears. Updated! Workers Vote For Sit-In at Company Making Obama's Suits. It seems that Wells Fargo, who received a $25B bailout, may force Hartmarx to liquidate, thereby throwing 1000s of people out of work.
Representative Phil Hare, who worked for 13 years as a clothing cutter at the company’s plant in Rock Island, Ill., said that if Wells Fargo sold Hartmarx to a buyer that liquidated it, "I promise you I will be their worst nightmare."
NY Times.
Congressman Hare (Ill. Dem.) knows which side he is on. Which side are you on? Please show solidarity with the workers by signing the letter linked below and Workers United, an affiliate of SEIU, will deliver it to Wells Fargo Executive Vice President CEO John Stumpf.
Sign the letter to Wells Fargo
More, after the fold.
The workers yesterday 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 New York Times reported on the vote yesterday for a sit-down action.
Hoping to save their jobs and start a national movement, Hartmarx workers are pressuring Wells Fargo, the company’s main creditor, to approve the sale of Hartmarx to a buyer that would keep it alive instead of liquidating it, and most likely putting its celebrated labels on suits made overseas.
Seeing a political and public relations opening, the workers and their union are arguing that Wells Fargo, having received $25 billion in the bank bailout, should keep a 122-year-old American company like Hartmarx in business and preserve some 3,600 jobs.
At a protest rally and meeting on Monday at the Hart Schaffner & Marx factory here, one lawmaker made clear that saving Hartmarx was a personal crusade. Representative Phil Hare, who worked for 13 years as a clothing cutter at the company’s plant in Rock Island, Ill., said that if Wells Fargo sold Hartmarx to a buyer that liquidated it, "I promise you I will be their worst nightmare."
NY Times.
Workers will fight back. We need a national movement for working people.
"If the banks are going to pull the plug and pull us down, we will fight," said Ruby Sims, president of the Workers United union local at the plant. "We’re going to do whatever it takes to keep our jobs."
NY Times.
Will you stand with them?
Please consider signing the letter. The next job loss could be your own. That's why we all must stick together. Solidarity matters.
Dear Mr. Stumpf,
The American people gave Wells Fargo 25 billion in TARP Funds. Now we are asking you to do the least you can do in return -- keep the Hart, Schaffner and Marx apparel company open by accepting one of the two bidders on the company that plans to keep the factory open.
Forcing the liquidation of American jobs is the last thing our economy needs right now. Wells Fargo has an obligation to shareholders, investors and public to take a longer term view of the economics, that means keeping jobs and supporting this profitable business. I urge you to do the right thing.
[your signature will go here]
Sign the letter to Wells Fargo
Yesterday, the workers at Hartmarx voted to engage in a sitdown action if the Wells Fargo or its subsidiary bank tries to shut it down:
"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," said Noel Beasley, Executive Vice President of Workers United, an SEIU affiliate, the union that represents the Hartmarx workers.
The workers were joined by Rep. Phil Hare, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and SEIU Illinois State Council president Tom Balanoff at the rally held after the "sit in" vote at the Des Plaines, IL plant to rally support for the suit maker label, which made the custom-made dark-navy suit Obama wore on Election Night in Chicago.
SEIU Blog
Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias stood and fought with workers yesterday at the Hart Schaffner Marx factory in Des Plaines, IL:
And Rep. Phil "I'll be your worst nighmare" Hare said "Times are tough but you are tougher."
I love Hare, a real fighting Democrat. Like Harry Truman, who first asked Congress to adopt national health insurance in 1945. We need more Phil Hare's and Alexi Giannoulias's and fewer Blanche Lincolns and Arlan Specters. We need Dems who know which side they are on and act accordingly.
In Solidarity, please Sign the letter to Wells Fargo
Dear Mr. Stumpf,
The American people gave Wells Fargo 25 billion in TARP Funds. Now we are asking you to do the least you can do in return -- keep the Hart, Schaffner and Marx apparel company open by accepting one of the two bidders on the company that plans to keep the factory open.
Forcing the liquidation of American jobs is the last thing our economy needs right now. Wells Fargo has an obligation to shareholders, investors and public to take a longer term view of the economics, that means keeping jobs and supporting this profitable business. I urge you to do the right thing.
[your signature will go here]
Update I: Andy Stern, the head of SEIU, also sent out an email alert to folks asking for signatures on this letter to Wells Fargo. Here's part of it:
1,000 workers at Hartmarx, the Chicago-based apparel company that makes President Obama's suits, may lose their jobs if Wells Fargo forces the company to liquidate. Two of the bidders on the manufacturer have said that they see the value in continuing the production of top quality suits and will keep the plant open and a third bidder wants to liquidate.
These Hartmarx workers are members of Workers United, SEIU's newest affiliate.
Please take a moment to sign a letter to Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf asking him to choose a bidder who will save these jobs. We'll make sure the letter is delivered with your signature and keep you updated on the situation.
snip
Yesterday, workers at Hartmarx voted in favor of a "sit in," which means that if Wells Fargo or a buyer tries to close the factory, the workers will remain at their job site.
These workers are taking a stand not just for their own jobs for all workers jeopardized by shortsighted banks.
Please co-sign the letter to Wells Fargo right now.
snip
The predecessor unions of Workers United like the ILGWU (remember "look for the union label") have represented Hartmarx employees for almost a hundred years.
I'm proud to ask you to join me in standing with them today.
In Solidarity,
Andy Stern
(my bolding)
Update II:
Watch Rachel Maddow's "Holy Mackerel" story on Hartmarx workers' found in the segment titled "Iran Frees Journalist". Coverage of Workers United members starts at minute 2.00.
Rachel Maddow