Philadelphians Rally In Support of Workers at Quad Cities Die Casting
On Tuesday, June 23, several dozen activists joined organizers from United Electrical Workers Local 155 to picket the Wachovia Bank at 1500 Market Street in Philadelphia. A National Day of Action was called by UE in support of the workers they represent at Quad Cities Die Casting in Moline, IL, who face the loss of nearly 100 factory jobs and more in the community because of inadequate funding to meet obligations in the economic downturn. Although the company remains viable and has kept its customers, the recession has resulted in fewer orders and temporary hardship. The company seeks bridge financing to sustain itself until an economic recovery.
The US government banking rescue was intended to provide financial institutions with the liquidity to keep credit flowing to American businesses to help them meet payrolls and weather the downturn. Instead, large banks like Wells Fargo, recipients of many billions of taxpayers' bail-out dollars, have bought other banks, like Wachovia, but refused to extend the credit to many struggling businesses and homeowners the bailout was meant to save. Instead of saving jobs with the taxpayers' bailout, Wells Fargo is destroying jobs and folks' lives, while grabbing easy profits.
Jobs with Justice took up the call in chapters all over the country. Locally, JwJ organized a picket at the Wachovia Bank branch in the heart of Philly's financial district. Activists from allied organizations responded, including SEIU Health Care PA, Change To Win, AFSCME DC 47, Temple Student Labor Action Project (SLAP), Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), along with many others affiliated with community and political groups. One passer-by, homeless, hearing about the struggle at the picket, demanded that bank officials reconsider her application for a home loan, but was forced to leave.
UE Local 155 President, Ron McCullough, and Philly Jobs with Justice Co-Chair, John Braxton, signed and delivered a Notice of Default to the Wachovia Bank management, stopping business as usual in the branch. This action and many similar events across the country have put Wells Fargo-Wachovia Bank on notice that they are in default of their promise to use taxpayers' bail-out funds to save jobs, not destroy them. Message delivered, loud and clear. The pressure is on.
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