Labor Union Blog

pBy Doug Cunningham/p pThe UE Chicago sitdowners have won, voting to end their sitdown in return for $1.75 million in wages, accrued vacation pay and two month’s paid health care. The workers occupying the Republic Windows amp; Doors plant voted Wednesday night to accept the agreement and end their six day sitdown strike. The settlement works out to about $7,000 per worker. The workers were told their plant was abruptly closing in violation of the federal WARN act. They were to be just kicked to the curb with nothing. Instead, they used the sitdown strike tactic to occupy the factory until they could negotiate a settlement. Their sitdown strike, rarely seen since the 1930’s in the U.S. labor movement, drew widespread media coverage, solidarity and support./p