Quad City workers target Wells Fargo to save jobs

[Omaha Steve]

http://transitional.pww.org/article/view/15863/

Author: Pepe Lozano
People's Weekly World Newspaper, 06/03/09 16:13

Rock Island, Ill. – Deb Johann has lived here her whole life. She has worked at the Quad City Die Casting factory in nearby Moline for the last 31 years. Johann is a proud member and leader of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) Local 1174. Johann is afraid the 60-year-old company she has worked at for half her life is about to be shut down and liquidated by Wells Fargo. Her husband was recently laid off, and they had just bought a new house.

The bank is a $25 billion recipient of federal bailout funds and is now refusing to extend credit to the Moline business. The plant closing has been announced for July 12 and is expected to put over 100 people out of work, 80 of them are members of UE.

Johann joined 20 of her co-workers and 100 supporters here at the downtown headquarters of Wells Fargo, June 2, to protest and demand the bank keep the business going until a new buyer can be found to save their jobs.

“I’m scared for me and my husband,” said Johann. “Where are we going to live if we lose our house?” Johann has two grown children. “I just thank God I have no kids at home right now,” she said.

“We all need our jobs, and we can’t let Wells Fargo do this to the small people,” noted Johann. “If Wells Fargo keeps us in business I know we can be profitable again.”

Quad City Die Casting is a manufacturer of metal die cast products and is known as a quality leader in the industry.The company is a certified custom manufacturer of magnesium, aluminum and zinc die casting products for automotive, agriculture, consumer and industrial users.


FULL story at link.