Bruce Raynor’s Statement on Wells Fargo’s attempt to liquidate Hartmarx and 3000 union jobs:
May 29, 2009
The Emerisque bid is good for Hartmarx's and its workers. It is good for Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo shareholders. Wells Fargo's statement is a thinly veiled attempt to force liquidation. It is outrageous for a bank that has received billions in taxpayer money to reject Emerisque's generous bid to save the company and thousands of good jobs.
The union has an understanding with Emerisque that it will assume Hartmarx's obligations to their employees including the union contract obligations. In addition Emerisque will not close the Rock Island Illinois facility. Emerisque is committed to the 'Made in America' label for Hickey Freeman and Hart Schaffner & Marx. These are the kind of good union jobs that are needed in our currently depressed economy. We call on Wells Fargo, recipient of 25 billion dollars in taxpayer support, to have a similar commitment to American jobs.
For more information:
Amanda Cooper (917) 224-6904
Mark Levinson (917) 209- 1767
Joe Costigan (312) 209-8648
Workers want change
Virgil Nelson
Distribution, Fingerhut Corp, Pres. Local 978 St. Cloud, MN
UNITE HERE wasn't addressing the needs of the members. We're glad to be in a new union that puts the members first!
Kristie Fleck
Delaware North, Denver, CO. Rocky Mountain Joint Board
We can fight for strong contracts for all workers, no matter where they live, what industry they work in, or what part of the union they come from. We want to fight for good union contracts that are negotiated before they expire for months, or even years.
As we move forward with this process I think it is important to think about an affiliation with SEIU. They are much larger and a powerful union that will help us continue to build a strong labor movement for all workers!