Justice Follows Direct Action: Former Boss of Occupied Chicago Factory Jailed

MichaelT — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:46:40 -0700

http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/09/justice-follows-direct-action-former-b...

by Benjamin Dangl / September 16th, 2009

Richard Gillman, the former CEO of Chicago’s Republic Windows and Doors factory where over 200 workers organized a victorious sit-in last year, has been sent to jail on eight charges including felony, theft, fraud, and money laundering. After the judge announced the $10 million bail, the shocked and dazed Gillman, dressed in a pinstriped suit, was hauled away to the county jail.

Republic workers captured the attention of the world when they occupied their plant on December 5, 2008 calling for the severance and vacation pay they were due. The sit-in ended six days later when the Bank of America and other lenders to Republic agreed to pay the workers the approximately $2 million owed to them. Recently, the workers won another victory with the arrest of Gillman.