Wells Fargo wants to rescind the line of credit to the 60-year old family-owned company. Since Wells Fargo is the company's primary creditor, this will clear the way for the bank to liquidate Quad City Die Casting's assets, kicking 100 unionized workers out on the street. This is despite the fact that Wells Fargo got $25 billion from taxpayers last fall, supposedly to keep viable companies such as Quad City Die Casting afloat in the current down economy.

Said protester Pat Catolico, “Wells Fargo is behaving terribly to working people in this country, and I'm glad to be here to inform folks about it.” The reaction from passersby from all kinds of walks of life was overwhelmingly positive and lots of fruitful discussions took place. Even several bank workers made a point to come down and greet the protesters and tell them they were right to call out Wells Fargo for its hypocrisy and greed in the matter.

Protests have erupted across the country condemning the bank's double dealing with the Quad City workers. Earlier, Wells Fargo sought to do the same thing with the nearly 4000 workers of the Hartmarx company in Des Plaines Illinois, before backing down in the face of withering criticism from that company's workers and their supporters.

Wells Fargo has come under intense criticism lately from various quarters. It is being sued by the city of Baltimore for its predatory lending practices to minority communities, which is one of the central causes of the current recession. In California, there have been protests in the Chicano community against the bank for its ties to the GEO group, which runs private prisons and detention facilities for immigrants. Wells Fargo is also complicating California's budget crisis by refusing to honor the IOU's the state is issuing to its contractors.

#SanFranciscoCA #QuadCityDieCasting #WellsFargo

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following resolution supporting the Quad City Die Casting workers. The resolution was passed by the July 11-12 National Convention of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

The 2009 SDS National Convention Stands in Solidarity with Quad City Die Casting Workers

The students and youth of SDS stand in solidarity with the union workers of UE Local 1174 in their fight to keep Quad City Die Casting open. We condemn the Wells Fargo bank for refusing to finance the factory in Moline, Illinois. This outrage comes after Wells Fargo received $25 billion dollars of taxpayer’s money in a bailout earlier this year. Wells Fargo is sitting on the money. So now a locally owned factory employing over a hundred workers is being forced to shut their doors. However, the union workers are fighting to save their jobs!

SDS is joining with the demand of the UE workers that Wells Fargo finance the company so they keep their jobs. Like the Republic Window and Door workers in Chicago this past December, it is unacceptable that a huge bank receives billions in bailout funds yet hangs the workers out to dry. Wells Fargo received $25 billion dollars from the recent bailout.

We are calling on all students and youth to hold protests at their local Wells Fargo banks and to express solidarity with the workers in Moline. Support the Quad City workers and their jobs! Pressure Wells Fargo to extend a line of credit to the Quad City Die Casting factory.

Further, we are asking students to go to the factory in Moline, Illinois and stand with the workers while they are fighting for their jobs.

Make the rich pay! Keep Quad City Die Casting open!

#MurfreesboroTN #Labor #News #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #QuadCityDieCasting

Rock Island, IL – “Wells Fargo, shame on you!” chanted the crowd of over 125 as eleven brave protesters blocked the road outside Wells Fargo here, July 9.

Protesters arrived with UE Local 1174 to deliver the message that Wells Fargo bank, a $25-billion bailout recipient, has become a roadblock to recovery after cutting off credit to Quad City Die Casting, a factory of 100 workers.

Lorey Butler, a machine operator at Quad City Die Casting, was one of the eleven road-blockers, all of whom were arrested and charged for their act of civil disobedience. Upon returning from arrest, Butler said, “I'm glad I did this. We're not gonna give up what we deserve.”

People from around the Midwest came to the scene to show solidarity with the UE Local 1174 workers, including members of the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout,  Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society and Chicago trade unionists.

#MolineIL #CapitalismAndEconomy #News #QuadCityDieCasting #WellsFargo

The workers of Quad City Die Casting are on the frontlines in the battle against plant closures.

Quad City Die Casting is a tool and die factory in Moline Illinois, on the Illinois/Iowa border.   Quad City had been a successful locally-owned factory, until the current economic crisis, making custom aluminum parts for farm equipment dealers and manufacturing.  Even though business is down during the current crisis, this factory has been a source of steady work for Moline workers for generations.  The factory has a loyal customer base that would continue to buy parts from the factory.  With sufficient credit lines the factory could stay in business and the 100 workers could stay on the job during this crisis.  Instead, Wells Fargo Bank, which got 25 billion dollars in bailout money, has cut off credit to the factory and without a new development, Quad City Die Casting will close this summer.

The workers of Quad City Die Casting, members of United Electrical Local 1174 are determined not to see the factory close.  Inspired by the workers of their sister local at Republic Doors and Windows in Chicago they will not to let their jobs disappear without a fight.  Quad City Die Casting workers are taking their struggle to Wells Fargo Banks across the nation and to the streets of the Quad Cities.

Workers all over the country have taken up the call for Solidarity.  Supporters are demanding a stop to the “Jobicide” and “Homeicide” Wells Fargo is committing.  In a crisis like this the banks and the big corporations will do anything to protect their high paid executives and share holders while workers fall into unemployment and foreclosure.  Wells Fargo is no exception.  In fact they are gaining a reputation for being absolutely unwilling to renegotiate mortgage terms or do anything else that might help working people in this country. Wells Fargo has basically already been paid for each and every bad loan on their books in the form of bailout/TARP funds.  This is outrageous; we cannot stand for this behavior from the greedy bankers.

The fact is that this is the worst economic crisis since the 1930's.  Whatever we might hope for in terms of a recovery, we are not likely to see one soon.  Even when it does come, it will be a recovery for the rich with continued misery for us.  Our answer to that must be that we have to fight for each and every job. Every Quad City Die Casting is our own struggle because any one of our workplaces could be next.

The struggle of the Quad City Workers is the struggle that our class needs to be engaged in this summer.  It is a struggle of workers who are willing to fight and a Union that will support that fight.  The demand that Wells Fargo extend the factory enough credit to survive this crisis is one that can be won.  There are Wells Fargo banks all over the country, any one can take up this important call for solidarity.

There will be an important action at the on Thursday, July 9 at 5:00 pm to dramatize the fact that Wells Fargo is a roadblock to economic recovery.  There will be a bold action in front of the Wells Fargo at 1800 30th St. in Rock Island, Illinois. Please attend if you are in the area or can travel to the Quad Cities on that day.  Fight Back! News will be there and so should you.

#MolineIL #News #QuadCityDieCasting

Quad City Die Casting workers and their supporters marched and rallied here, June 11,  in front of the office of Wells Fargo. They demanded that the bank restore the financing and save the 100 jobs of the Moline, Illinois company slated for closing on July 12. The Republic Window and Door workers were there in force to show support and pass on lessons learned in their battle with Bank of America . A national day of action has been called for Tuesday, June 23, where Wells Fargo will feel the pressure from all over as the campaign turns up the heat.

#ChicagoIL #CapitalismAndEconomy #News #QuadCityDieCasting

On June 2, United Electrical (UE) members at Quad Cities Die Casting, along with members of the community, served Wells Fargo with a notice of default on the bank’s obligations to the U.S. working people. Wells Fargo is liquidating their factory and throwing 100 people out of work after 60 years of business.

Keith Scribner, a 19-year employee and president of UE Local 1174, said it simply in front of the Wells Fargo doors where the workers posted their demands, “Keep the financing going instead of closing.” Workers like Deb Johann, who has worked at Quad City Die Casting for 31 years, told the large crowd, “Keeping the money is shameful,” referring to the $25 billion of federal bailout funds sent in to Wells Fargo for just these kinds of cases. The rally included other union workers from AFSCME Council 31, the sheet metal workers and the Quad City Federation of Labor. Every media outlet in town covered the militant action.

Many of the workers spoke about the inspiration that they have gotten from the Republic Window and Door victories. In fact, on June 11 Quad Cities Die Casting workers from Moline will join their fellow UE Republic Window workers at a rally in Chicago. They also see their fight very much connected to the folks at Hartmarx, a Chicago-based suit maker that owns Seaford Clothing in Rock Island. They are also fighting for Wells Fargo to do the right thing on a bigger scale.

The Quad City Die Casting workers have been given notice of the plant closing on July 12. They have watched countless companies close around them and the terrible effect it has had on their city. These same Quad Cities Die Casting workers fought just a few years ago in a pitched lockout battle. The company has loyal customers that can help get the company profitable again.

Everybody in the country stands to gain from the efforts of these brave workers. And Quad Cities Die Casting workers, like Helen Ptacek, Keith Scribner, Deb Johann and others, are inviting even more people to back them up.

#RockIslandIL #News #QuadCityDieCasting

Members of Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) demonstrated June 23 in front of the downtown Wells Fargo building after UE Workers at Quad City Die Casting in Moline, Illinois called for a national day of action to be held outside Wells Fargo banks nationwide.

Kas Schwerdtferger, an SDS member at the rally, said, “As students, we know it’s important to show support for workers fighting for their jobs. We’re in this economic crisis together and are ready to do whatever it takes to fight back against unjust cuts.”

Milwaukee SDS is prepared to support these workers in whatever actions are called.

#MilwaukeeWI #StudentMovement #News #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #QuadCityDieCasting