Revolt on Goose Island : the Chicago factory takeover, and what it says about the economic crisis

**Revised and updated, with a new afterword by the author**“There is much talk about ‘audacity’ these days, but true chutzpah is when the workers take over the factory and take on the bank. Kari Lydersen’s invaluable account of the Republic sit-down strike is an instruction manual for worker dignity.”**—Mike Davis, author of __Buda’s Wagon__ and __City of Quartz__**December 5, 2008: It wasn’t supposed to work like this. Days after getting a $45 billion bailout from the U.S. government, Bank of America shut down a line of credit that kept Chicago’s Republic Windows & Doors factory operating. The bosses, who knew what was coming, had been sneaking machinery out in the middle of the night. They closed the factory and sent the workers home.Then something surprising happened: Republic’s workers occupied the factory and refused to leave.Kari Lydersen, an award-winning reporter, tells the story of the factory takeover, elegantly transforming the workers’ story into a parable of labor activism for the twenty-first century, one that concludes with a surprising and little-reported victory. Revised and updated, with a new afterword by the author “There is much talk about ‘audacity’ these days, but true chutzpah is when the workers take over the factory and take on the bank. Kari Lydersen’s invaluable account of the Republic sit-down strike is an instruction manual for worker dignity.” —Mike Davis, author of Buda’s Wagon and City of Quartz December 5, 2008: It wasn’t supposed to work like this. Days after getting a $45 billion bailout from the U.S. government, Bank of America shut down a line of credit that kept Chicago’s Republic Windows & Doors factory operating. The bosses, who knew what was coming, had been sneaking machinery out in the middle of the night. They closed the factory and sent the workers home. Then something surprising happened: Republic’s workers occupied the factory and refused to leave. Kari Lydersen, an award-winning reporter, tells the story of the factory takeover, elegantly transforming the workers’ story into a parable of labor activism for the twenty-first century, one that concludes with a surprising and little-reported victory. I think theyre absolutely right... whats happening to them is reflective of whats happening across this economy. --President Barack Obama on the workers at Republic Windows & Doors December 5, 2008: It wasnt supposed to work like this. Days after getting a $45 billion bailout from the U.S. government, Bank of America shut down a line of credit that kept Chicagos Republic Windows & Doors factory operating. The bosses, who knew what was coming, had been sneaking machinery out in the middle of the night. They closed the factory and sent the workers home. Then something surprising happened: Republics workers occupied the factory and refused to leave. Kari Lydersen, an award-winning Washington Post reporter, tells the story of the factory takeover, elegantly transforming the workers story into a parable of labor activism for the 21st century, one that concludes with a surprising and little-reported victory. Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents Preface 1. The Stakeout 2. A Labor Battle in a Labor City 3. Shutting the Door on Republic 4. The Revolt 5. A Window of Opportunity 6. Getting Serious 7. On the Road to Resistance and Recovery Epilogue A Note on Sources Acknowledgments Notes The story of Chicago's Republic Windows & Doors factory takeover on December 5, 2008. The workers occupied the factory and refused to leave after the Bank of America shut down a line of credit that closed the factory