From the NY Times: Even Workers Surprised by Success of Factory Sit-In

By the time their six-day sit-in ended on Wednesday night, the 240 laid-off workers at this previously anonymous 125,000-square-foot plant had become national symbols of worker discontent amid the layoffs sweeping the country. Civil rights workers compared them to Rosa Parks. But all the workers wanted, they said, was what they deserved under the law: 60 days of severance pay and earned vacation time.

And to their surprise, their drastic action worked. Late Wednesday, two major banks agreed to lend the company enough money to give the workers what they asked for….

The article gives the inside story on the sit-in and the workers’ victory. The way the business owner, Richard Gillman, steadily manuverded behind the workers’ backs is a sad testament to the way he ran his business. A new corporation, a new location, disappearing equipment, non-union workers, not a word, then blame it all on the banks. Sure they had their part, but Mr. Gillman selfishly tried to milk the whole process for personal gain. His lasting memorial will state: ‘Sure, give the workers their due, but give Gillman a Mercedes too.‘

It is too bad for Mr. Gillman. He ignored and undercut the ‘dark skinned, ethnic, Union workers’ because he probably figured they couldn’t help his business. Too bad for him, with their enthusiasm, courage, knowledge, and dedication they likely would have saved it.