VivirLatino

About 250 laid off workers of the Republic Windows and Doors glass factory have taken over their place of work after they were given three days notice. Workers are taking eight hour shifts and are saying they will not give up their occupation until certain demands are met, including severance and vacation pay.

“We decided to do it because this is money that belongs to us,” said Maria
Roman, who’s worked at the plant for eight years. “These are our rights.”

When I first heard about this story, my first thought was, “It’s about damn time,” and not just because I am a fan of takeovers and occupations but because of a wider global history of labor and other activists successfully using this tactic proving that there is power in organized numbers.

The overwhelming majority of the workers of the factory set to be closed, are using a strategy that hasn’t been seen in the U.S. since the 1930′s, pero in Latin America, this tactic is commonplace, used by workers of all types including university professors and even high school students and with success.

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