You are hereQuad Cities Dispatch Argus: Clergy members join Quad City Die Casting's protest
Quad Cities Dispatch Argus: Clergy members join Quad City Die Casting's protest
Clergy members joined Quad City Die Casting employees in a rally outside the Davenport Wells Fargo office Tuesday to protest the bank's decision to discontinue credit to the 60-year-old Moline company.
Since the company announced it was closing around July 12, putting 100 people out of work, employees have staged several rallies, hoping to save their jobs. They recently rallied outside Wellls Fargo offices in downtown Chicago.
As bank employees peered out windows Tuesday, Rev. C.J. Hawking, executive director of Arise Chicago, told the group of about 13 area religious leaders, union members and supporters that the clergy came to express solidarity with workers
According to the organization's Web site, Arise Chicago organizes religious community members to help with issues of workplace injustice.
Ms. Hawking said that while Wells Fargo received $25 million in federal bailout funds, "workers and families and companies are being left high and dry."
Union members and supporters formed a tight circle as religious leaders took turns saying prayers. Ms. Hawking said they were denied access to the bank but delivered a letter for the bank's president to an employee in the lobby.
Protestors said they hoped bank employees would communicate with the workers.
Quad City Die Casting employee Frank Kauzlarich said that with the loss of health insurance, many employees were struggling to get medical care. Their situation is similar to that of millions of families across the country, he said.
"Somewhere, at some point, it's got to stop," he said. "We're small, but we're going to be hurt."
Bob Kingsley, national director of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), which represents most of Quad City Die Casting's workers, called Wells Fargo a "roadblock to recovery."
According to a press release, UE declared Tuesday a "National Day of Action Against Wells Fargo." Mr. Kingsley said 20 protests were planned at Wells Fargo branches in cities across the country.
"We're so proud of the fight our members are putting up," he said.
Debbie Johann, a 31-year employee at the factory, said the future is uncertain for the factory workers.
"Several people's wives don't work, and they have young children at home," she said. "I don't know what's going to happen if we really do lose our jobs."
Mr. Kingsley said union members were hopeful, yet realistic, about the factory's future. He said if they don't receive a response from Wells Fargo, workers would take "further, stronger steps" next week.
"This is the beginning," Mr. Kingsley said. "The time to solve this problem is now."
Wells Fargo spokeswoman Angie Kaipust declined to comment on Tuesday's protest and said the bank's previous statement on the matter still stands.
A spokesman for Quad City Die Casting also declined to comment.
Mr. Kauzlarich said the company was not clear on whether July 12 would be the official closing date. The uncertainty over the factory's closing is causing even more stress for employees, he said.
"It's weighing heavily on everyone's mind," Mr. Kauzlarich said. "It's really a demoralizing thing."
By Christina Salter
