Obama sides with protesting Chicago factory workers Stephen C. Webster

Published: Sunday December 7, 2008





Print This Email This On Sunday, the third day of sit-in protests by workers at Chicago's Republic Windows and Doors, spirits were lifted among the desperate activists by a reassurance from none other than the President-elect.



When it comes to the situation here in Chicago with the workers who are asking for their benefits and payments they have earned, I think they are absolutely right, said Obama during a Sunday news conference, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. Whats happening to them is reflective of whats happening across this economy.



When you have a financial system that is shaky, credit contracts. Businesses large and small start cutting back on their plants and equipment and their workforces. Thats why its so important for us to maintain a strong financial system. But its also important for us to make sure that the plans and programs that we design arent just targeted at maintaining the solvency of banks, but they are designed to get money out the doors and to help people on Main Street. So, number one, I think that these workers, if they have earned their benefits and their pay, then these companies need to follow through on those commitments.



Number two, I think it is important for us to make sure that, moving forward, any economic plan we put in place helps businesses to meet payroll so we are not seeing these kinds of circumstances again. Have we done everything that we can to make sure credit is flowing to businesses and to families, and to students who are trying to get loans? And to homeowners who have been making payments on their homes but are still finding their property values so depressed that it becomes very difficult for them to make the mortgage payments?"



The following video was published by the Associated Press on Sunday, Dec. 7.





