Detroit labor activists meet Republic’s workers

WW photo: Alan Pollock

On Dec. 10 a five-person delegation from Detroit traveled to Chicago to support the workers at Republic Windows and Doors. The delegation first joined the rally in downtown Chicago at the Bank of America. They then visited the Republic plant where they joined with their fellow workers—the majority Latina/o immigrants—by shaking hands, sharing their union’s solidarity statements in both English and Spanish, and being welcomed onto the shop floor where the occupation was taking place.

The inspirational visit ended with chants of “¡Sí Se Puede!” and “Bail Out the Workers Not the Banks!”

The Detroit delegation included Alan Pollock, a former UAW rank-and-file machinist; David Sole, president of UAW Local 2334; Rosendo Delgado of Latinos Unidos and an UAW rank-and-file member; Ignacio Meneses, UAW retiree and member of Labor Exchange and Latinos Unidos; and Bryan G. Pfeifer, staff organizer for the Union of Part-Time Faculty (UPTF)-AFT at Wayne State University. All delegation members are also members of the Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures and Evictions.