UE NEWS Updates

On December 5, the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the historic six-day occupation of the Republic Windows & Doors by the members of UE Local 1110, the Republic CEO who caused the sit-in was sentenced to four years in prison.

The ex-boss, Richard Gillman, pleaded guilty in Cook County court to one count of theft for stealing more than $500,000 of the company’s assets. In addition to prison time, he was fined $100,000 by Judge Domenica Stephenson.

Solidarity actions and the threat of a strike put enough pressure on Renzenberger to get an improved contract offer, and Chicago-area van drivers represented by UE Local 1177 approved it by a 4-1 margin in balloting last week. The new contract includes better paid time off provisions, more paid break time, more job security protections and other working condition improvements that are not included in the contract covering drivers in California.

Jessica Brandon, a mother of three whose 40-year-old husband has had four heart attacks, is the sole wage earner in her family. For the past 5 ½ years she has worked as a healthcare technician at Central Regional Hospital in Butner, North Carolina, one of three state psychiatric hospitals. After paying essential bills for the family, Brandon said, she typically has less than $40 left for the month.

Protest demonstrations were organized by UE Local 150 and the Southern Workers Assembly for Friday, November 1 in three North Carolina cities, as well as three other Southern cities. The demand of these rallies: “Stop the criminalization of the constitutional and international human right to protest! Drop charges against Saladin Muhammad and all Moral Mondays arrestees!”