Chicago workers end sit-in at closed factory

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[i]With cheers and chants that echoed President-elect Barack Obama's campaign of change, jubilant workers agreed to a $1.75 million settlement that ends their six-day occupation of a shuttered Chicago factory that became a symbol of the plight of labor nationwide. Republic Windows & Doors, union leaders and Bank of America reached the deal Wednesday evening. Each former Republic employee will get eight weeks' salary, all accrued vacation pay and two months' paid health care, said U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, who helped broker the deal. He said it works out to about $7,000 apiece. "We lost the jobs but we got something," said Lalo Munoz, who worked at the plant for 24 years.[/i] It's not a good severence package for workers like Munz, who had been there for many years, but at least the former employees of this company will get more than they were originally slated to get. The rest of the story can be found here: http://www.dcexaminer.com/ap/?c=y&id=1224604