The Entitlement Riots of 2009 - Republic Door and Window Employee Sit-In Case Study

In December of 2008 the employees of Republicare entitled too.
Door and Window were laid off with three-dayNever mind that the bank already has those
notice, not the 60-day layoff notice that isassets collateralized and that the company's
required. How could this happen? Well, creditvendors are in line to get anything left over in a
markets are tight and the company could not getbankruptcy auction. If the employees come
the money it needed to pay the expenses, so itbefore the bank by filing a lawsuit then what will
was forced to close its doors. Obviously with newhappen? Well, consider this, right now about 1/3
housing starts at a standstill and the subprimeof all businesses do not have enough cash
mortgage crisis, not too many home builders arereserves to pay all their employees and benefits
ordering lots of doors or windows and with the60-days in advance and still operate their
economy at the bottom of a recession there arecompanies.
not many people remodeling.Thus, in the event of a lawsuit win on behalf of
Okay, we know all this right, but now thethe employees, many companies will be forced to
employees of Republic Door and Window will notimmediately announce lay-offs for fear of violating
leave the premises, and tell the media that theythe law or not having the money they need
are owed severance pay, vacation pay, sick payon-hand and therefore opening their executives up
days and they are not leaving until they get thefor criminal penalties. The banks realizing this will
money. Further, they refuse to let securedalso wish to reduce their risks and demand
creditors in to lock the doors or collect assets."escrow accounts" or insurance for 60-pay for all
The employees say that their rights were violatedlabor. Again, this will cause more layoffs and
and the come before the bank. If they do notclosing of companies and revocation of more
get satisfaction from the bank they will have acommercial credit lines.
protest march in downtown Chicago in two daysNow the employees of Republic Door and Window
or December 11, 2008.could secure funding for an ESOP, but most folks
The workers are joined by labor unions, some ofin America are already 150% in short-term debt,
whom are hoping for a bailout package for theand they most likely cannot even get a car loan
automakers, as they fell they might be next.right now, much to the frowns of those nearby in
Others include construction union workers andDetroit. Would the employees, if they could, be
many other local union shops. President-Electwilling to go online or in-hawk for the debt needed
Obama was on TV with reporters tellingto buy the company or save it from bankruptcy?
everyone that the workers have a right to whatNo, most likely not, why would they want to take
they are owed, entitled to the benefits they werethe risk right now of a manufacturing firm selling
promised and the money they've earned. So, nowto the housing or commercial building industry, not
the upset workers seem to feel they have theexactly the right sector to be in right now is it?
right to protest until their demands are met.Of course not, times are tough, and these
Now then, we all know the previous laws passedemployees are demanding something that just
require companies to notify that employeesisn't feasible and if they do not get it, they will
60-days prior to layoffs. But, we also know thatprotest in the streets in Chicago, because the
banks are busy revoking commercial credit lines.President-Elect tells us it is their right to
Now if the employees get their way, and mind"community organize" and march. Perhaps, you
you they are telling the media they are protectingmay not see the irony in all this, but to better
their assets such as the doors and window thatunderstand, why not read Ayn Rand "Atlas
they have already completed, and the equipmentShrugged," and consider where we are headed
inside the company, in case they have to sell it towas we enter the era of Entitlement Riots. Think
get their back-owed money, that they claim theyon this.