Union: Sit-in at Ill. factory not over yet

CHICAGO -- A five-day sit-in by laid-off workers at a Chicago window and door maker continued Tuesday despite an offer by the plant's creditor to extend limited loans to the factory so it could resolve the dispute.

The factory closed Friday after Bank of America canceled its financing.

About 200 of the 240 laid-off workers -- who were given three days' notice -- responded by staging a sit-in at Republic Windows and Doors, vowing to stay until receiving assurances of severance and accrued vacation pay.

A resolution appeared closer Tuesday when the Bank of America announced it had sent a letter to Republic offering to "provide a limited amount of additional loans" to resolve the employee claims.

The bank appeared to side at least in part with disgruntled workers, expressing concern in the statement "about Republic's failure to pay their employees the Employee Claims to which they are legally entitled."

Leah Fried, an organizer for the United Electrical Workers, which represents the Republic workers, said workers would have to vote to end the action after any final agreement, but said negotiations between the bank, the company and union representative were ongoing.

The company did not return messages seeking comment on Tuesday.

Bank of America has received the brunt of criticism from lawmakers and others for cutting off the plant's credit after taking federal bailout money.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Monday ordered all state agencies to stop doing business with Bank of America to pressure the bank into using federal bailout money it received to help the laid-off workers. And Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said he wanted to ask his fellow senators to remind banks that the bailout wasn't to be used for dividends and executive salaries.