A Window of Opportunity
A Window of Opportunity
This page is about an exciting new opportunity than has risen from the struggle at Republic Windows in Chicago.
Find out how Republic Workers continue to fight for a better future.
Reclaiming Jobs
The Window of Opportunity Fund was created by UE and Local 1110 to support an immediate and aggressive campaign to find investors to re-establish a manufacturing operation at or near the Goose Island factory that formerly housed Republic Windows and Doors.
Plans call for quickly establishing a working group of union leaders, community activists, public officials and economic development experts to initiate this search.
Jobs and job training opportunities created through the work of the Fund will be offered first to former Republic employees.
A priority will be placed on creating "Green Jobs."
The Fund and its work will initially be directed by local, regional and national union officers. A broader governing board including community leaders will be established later.
The work of the Fund will also include providing advice to workers confronting economic injustice in situations similar to those which gave rise to the sit-in at Republic.
A letter from UE Local 1110:
"We said we would not go anywhere until we get justice, and now we have it!" declared Armando Robles, President of United Electrical Workers Union (UE) Local 1110. "The occupation is over."
Armando's words signaled a victory for the workers and for working people everywhere. On Dec. 10th, the occupation of the Republic Windows and Doors plant in Chicago ended and workers won eight weeks of severance pay, health care and their vacation pay. Because of the support that poured in from people like you, we have made a new milestone in the history of the labor movement.
We have taken an important step and must now secure the final component of victory at Republic. We need your continued support to mount a major campaign to reopen the plant.
During the sit-in, UE members at Republic drew courage and strength from messages of solidarity from around the world and gave hope to those who combat greed and unfairness. Demonstrations sprung up in other cities to help propel us to victory.
The UE and Local 1110 have created the Window of Opportunity Fund to re-establish a manufacturing operation at the factory that formerly housed Republic. We are organizing a working group of union leaders, community activists, public officials and economic development experts to initiate worker driven green job creation.
Jobs and job training opportunities created through the Fund will be offered first to former Republic employees. The work of the Fund will also provide advice to workers confronting economic injustice in situations similar to those which gave rise to the sit-in at Republic.
I am writing to ask you to give $20, $30 or more to the Window of Opportunity Fund by by using the "Donate" button on the right side of this page.
Please contribute what you can to this effort. We have overcome a company and two banks to get this far, and we will overcome the hurdles of reopening Republic so long as we have the minimum resources to make it happen.
Together, we can start to put nearly 300 people back to work; but we need your help NOW to make sure this happens.
Thank you for supporting the fight for justice at Republic!
In solidarity,
Melvin Maclin
Vice President
UE Local 1110
United Electrical Workers Union (UE)
The Rank and File Union
P.S. We are taking the economy into our own hands by creating green jobs with the Window of Opportunity Fund. You can give the gift of green jobs just in time for the holidays. Find out more and donate!
