Republic Windows and Doors
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Founder | William Spielman |
| Defunct | 2008-12-02 |
| Fate | Filed for bankruptcy; assets acquired by Serious Materials |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
| Products | Windows and doors |
Republic Windows and Doors was a manufacturing firm based in Chicago, established in 1965 by William Spielman. The company filed for bankruptcy on December 2, 2008, with its assets subsequently managed by principal creditors Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase.
History
Just prior to its closure, Republic Windows expanded by acquiring Echo Windows and Doors, a non-unionized manufacturing facility located in Red Oak, Iowa. This acquisition triggered disputes with the union representing Republic's workforce, which lodged formal complaints regarding the transaction.
Bankruptcy
In the months leading up to the bankruptcy, employees at Republic’s Goose Island warehouse observed the removal of essential machinery. Leaders from UE Local 1110, including President Armando Robles and organizer Mark Meinster, closely monitored the site and prepared for a potential occupation should the plant shut down.
On December 3, 2008, company executives announced the plant’s closure scheduled for December 5, attributing it to Bank of America’s withdrawal of its credit line amid declining sales. When workers arrived on December 2 to receive their paychecks, they were informed that accrued sick leave and vacation pay would not be honored, and that health insurance coverage would cease shortly thereafter.
The union filed grievances citing breaches of the WARN Act, asserting that $1.5 million was owed in unpaid vacation and severance funds along with extended healthcare benefits. Republic Windows officially filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on December 15, 2008.
In February 2009, Serious Materials—a Sunnyvale-based manufacturer specializing in environmentally sustainable building products—acquired Republic’s assets and announced intentions to rehire many former factory employees.
Sitdown strikes
On the day the Goose Island plant was scheduled to close, approximately 200 out of 240 employees launched a sitdown strike protesting Republic’s alleged violation of federal labor laws requiring a 60-day notice before layoffs. The shutdown was reportedly influenced by Bank of America’s lending decisions.
The strike concluded on December 11 with a $1.75 million settlement negotiated between United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (Local 1110), Republic’s owners, and Bank of America. The settlement funds covered severance packages, vacation pay, and temporary health insurance benefits. On December 10, both Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase agreed to finance this agreement and provide two months of health coverage.
Filmmaker Eric Weinrib captured footage of the factory occupation for Michael Moore’s 2009 documentary Capitalism: A Love Story, showcasing labor activism during the strike.
Journalist Kari Lydersen further chronicled the events in her book Revolt on Goose Island, released in June 2009.
A subsequent sit-in took place on February 23, 2012, when roughly 65 workers at Serious Materials (the successor to Republic Windows and Doors) protested against an announced factory closure and consolidation plan. The occupation ended once management consented to keep the facility operational for an additional 90 days. Armando Robles, president of United Electrical Local 1110, expressed interest in transitioning toward worker ownership. Following this movement, former employees from Republic and Serious Materials founded New Era Windows, a worker-owned cooperative producing replacement windows.
Criminal allegations
In September 2009, prosecutors in Cook County formally accused Republic Windows' CEO Richard Gillman of masterminding the plant shutdown that occurred in December 2008. It was alleged that Gillman, along with two other executives, transferred 10 semitrailers filled with production equipment, with three of those trailers being moved to a business located in Red Oak, Iowa. Gillman assumed ownership of this Iowa company on January 1, 2009; however, it ceased operations by February 2009, leading to the dismissal of 120 employees.
By December 2013, Gillman received a prison sentence of four years after being convicted of embezzling $500,000 from Republic Windows and Doors.