UE members and allies today conducted protests across the country at 20 branch offices of banking giant Wells Fargo, from Boston to Los Angeles. Joined by members of other unions, Jobs with Justice and community organizations, members chanted, “You got bailed out, we got sold out!” and carried signs with that same message. The union charges that the bank, the recipient of a $25 billion bailout from taxpayers, is unfairly forcing the closure of a viable Illinois factory and has become a roadblock to economic recovery.

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Over 75 supporters of UE members at QCDC marched on Wells Fargo Home Mortgage on North Avenue in Chicago, IL. Protesters cordoned off the area with crime scene tape, accusing Wells Fargo of JOBicide and HOMEicide. Wells Fargo, in addition to foreclosing on the homes of thousands of families nation-wide, is cutting financing to small businesses like Quad City Die Casting, leaving hundreds of workers unemployed. Protesters drew chalk outlines of workers affected by the bank's actions.

by Adam Doster, Progress Illinois, June 18, 2009

UE joined today with more than 200 allied organizations to kick-off a new national coalition aimed at stopping the lawless behavior of banks and other lending institutions. Americans for Financial Reform ( www.ourfinancialsecurity.org ) welcomed UE to their Washington, D.C. press conference this morning. The struggle to force Wells Fargo Bank to extend credit to the Quad City Die Casting Company was featured as an example of why drastic reform of the financial sector is so urgently needed.

by Leah Fried

What are the banks doing with the bailout billions taxpayers gave them, to help us on the road to economic recovery?

In the case of Wells Fargo and the Quad City Die Casting (QCDC) factory in Moline, Illinois, nothing good.  In fact the bank is a huge roadblock to recovery.  That's why on Thursday, June 11, several hundred angry people marched in the pouring rain outside of Wells Fargo's offices in Chicago.

By Mike Elk
June 11, 2009 - 11:21am ET
www.ourfuture.org

The fact that regular citizens have been largely excluded from the debate over financial regulation on Capitol Hill was underscored most vividly when Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill, said last month that "frankly the banks own the place."

Progress Illinois

by Adam Doster on June 11, 2009 - 1:31pm