Auto Industry Bailout; Chaos in Greece; Factory Takeover
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone, I'm Don Lemon live here at the CNN World Headquarters here in Atlanta.Laid off workers unite. They have taken over their factory. People are taking notice including a noted name. And attention to shifting to the bank at the center of the shutdown. In the same city, it is the same issue. Barack Obama talks about the economy. What can be done and what he will do once he takes office. Chaos in Greece. Police and</s>AARON BASKERVILLE, CLTV REPORTER (voice over): Reverend Jesse Jackson arrived at Republic Windows & Doors on the north side, bringing food for the workers and their families camped out at company headquarters since Friday. These workers are not leaving their jobs until they're paid for their work. And Jackson says this could be the spark to ignite mass worker demonstrations throughout the country.</s>REV. JESSE JACKSON, CIVIL RIGHT ACTIVIST: These workers are, to this struggle, perhaps what Rosa Parks was to social justice 50 years ago. Just maybe workers must begin to show resistance at banks all around the nation.</s>BASKERVILLE: The company was forced to shut down because its credit was canceled by Bank of America and workers received only three days' notice. Now they're taking a stand until they get the vacation and severance pay which they believe they're entitled to.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean this is just about basic human decency, people getting what they're owed under law and what they've earned with their own labor. So yes, they're very upset. They're very worried about their future. Being kicked out with three days' notice, penniless on the street? That's just crazy.</s>BASKERVILLE: About 300 people work at the factory on Hickory Avenue on Goose Island and under law, the company apparently failed to give 60 days' notice before closing its door. Republic Windows & Doors can't pay their workers because union leaders say the bank won't let them.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our problem is -- our workers we don't want to let the company step on us. We have to fight to the end.</s>LEMON: And for its part, Bank of America says it's not responsible for the company's financial obligations. Bank officials, workers and company leaders are scheduled to meet tomorrow to talk. Earlier today, President-elect Obama was asked about the Chicago factory standoff.</s>BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: When it comes to the situation here in Chicago, with the workers who are asking for the benefits and payments that they have earned, I think they're absolutely right and understand that what's happening to them is reflective of what's happening across this economy.</s>LEMON: The president-elect in Chicago today. Right now I'm joined by one of the workers who is taking part in this protest. It's Melvin Maclin. You see him there on the screen. He has worked for Republic Windows & Doors for seven years. And as I understand, sir, from speaking with a representatives from the company earlier, you've worked there that long, you have five children, correct, that you need to take care of, not just through the holidays but forever?</s>MELVIN MACLIN, LAID-OFF WORKER: This is true. As a matter of fact, I have six children and 15 grandchildren.</s>LEMON: Six children and 15 grandchildren. As someone who has worked there seven years, and I want to tell people what you're fighting for. You believe that you should get 60 days, at least, severance and also back vacation pay. This will help you, obviously, and many more people like you, who have children, who have obligations, and some of you who -- your healthcare and your benefits are quickly running out.</s>MACLIN: This is, this is very true. I mean, we've just been shafted, for lack of a better term. We had initially hoped and prayed for a bailout, you know, but since Bank of America chose not to do that, then at least we were looking for vacation pay, which we had already earned. And they told us three days in advance that the plant was closing. On Friday, they canceled our insurance. So now we have no insurance. We have no vacation pay. As of now, our last check, it's in question whether we will even receive it or not. And the company nor the bank feels no responsibility towards the Federal Warrant Act to pay us for the 60 days.</s>LEMON: Yes. I have spoken to several representatives, several workers, too, by telephone and they're saying today, Melvin, that you guys are feeling more empowered as you get help, people -- as you get support from people like the Reverend Jesse Jackson, also from other politicians and leaders in the city as they come in to visit you. You're feeling more empowered as workers.</s>MACLIN: Oh, we are feeling, we are feeling fantastic. And it's not just the leaders, but it's the other unions that's behind us. It's the community's support. It's just the private citizens that's bringing in donations and blankets and pillows and just numerous numbers of prayers. We're feeling very positive at this moment, because now that the light is on, we feel that Bank of America is almost forced to do the right thing.</s>LEMON: All right. Melvin Maclin, a patriarch of six children, 15 grandchildren, finding himself out of work for this holiday season. We certainly appreciate you joining us and we wish you the very best, OK?</s>MACLIN: Thank you so much.</s>LEMON: Thank you. CNN's Elaine Quijano was there for Barack Obama's news conference in Chicago and Elaine joins us now. The president-elect has been talking a lot about jobs and unemployment this weekend. He even mentioned, as you saw, Elaine, when you were there at the press conference, talking about those factory workers, but doing a lot of hinting this weekend at the scope of his jobs program to help people who are in similar situations.</s>ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's exactly right, Don. You know, the president-elect has said that he would like to create 2.5 million new jobs and not just talking at his news conference but also in his weekly radio address. This weekend, the president-elect talking about how he plans to do that. He pledged to launch the biggest public works project since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s. He also said doing things like modernizing schools, upgrading federal buildings, installing more energy efficient technologies like upgrading old heating systems, energy efficient lightbulbs in some of these buildings, will not only to help save taxpayer dollars, he said, but will also help put people back to work. And so these are the kinds of details the president-elect has unveiled and he said to expect more details on his economic recovery plan in the weeks ahead -- Don?</s>LEMON: Elaine, let's move on to talk about the auto companies and the bailout. There are a lot of people who are interested in that, and especially the people who -- who work for those companies or who -- who are heading those companies. Mr. Obama also said today that Congress is really taking the right approach with this, but certainly a lot more needs to be done when it comes to hammering out this plan.</s>QUIJANO: That's right. As lawmakers in Washington really try to temporarily, essentially, save the U.S. auto industry, Barack Obama at that news conference today said that he does believe that Congress is taking the right approach, taking what he called a conditioned based approach here, that even as they work to provide some short-term assistance to these big three automakers, at the same time insisting that, look, these companies have to make some very tough business decisions. He talked about doing things like restructuring, for instance, and said frankly in his view, he thinks restructuring is something that should have happened 10, 20, even 30 years ago. Don?</s>LEMON: Right. CNN's Elaine Quijano. Elaine, we appreciate that. The bailout loan to the U.S. auto industry could come to a vote in Congress, that could happen within days. The price tag is expected to be $15 to $17 billion as you look at live pictures of the Capitol there and the White House. That's about half of what the big three CEOs had asked for last week. Now to ensure White House support, Congress may take -- may have to take the money from a fund already set up to help GM, Ford and Chrysler make more energy efficient cars. Now if the loan package goes through, a senior Democrat warns it could cost one auto executive his job.</s>SEN. CHRIS DODD (D), BANKING CHAIRMAN: If you're going to really restructure this, you got to bring in a new team to do this, in my view. And these are...</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Should that be part of the condition of any bailout?</s>DODD: I think it's going to have to be part of it. And they're in different positions. I think it's clear GM is in the worst shape. Chrysler is, I think, basically gone, probably ought to be merged. Ford is fairly healthy. So -- but we don't want to brand all of these companies exactly the same way. But nonetheless, if you're going to restructure and have a viable manufacturing sector in our country...</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So what you're saying about GM is that Rick Wagoner, the chairman, has to go?</s>DODD: I think he has to move on.</s>LEMON: Well, one reason Washington hasn't moved quicker to help automakers, most of you don't think Congress should give any money to the big three. A CNN Opinion Research Poll taken after the first round of hearings on Capitol Hill finds that more than 60 percent of Americans oppose that idea. Only 36 percent say they are in favor of government help. Well, in Detroit, many Detroit autoworkers see the bailout loan as do or die. The UAW today organized a caravan of union workers to drive to Washington to make their case in person. They are expected to arrive tonight in Breezewood, Pennsylvania, and then continue on to Washington tomorrow morning. The plan calls for a march to Capitol Hill with a news at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. Well, one person in that caravan is Frank Hammer, the retired former president of UAW Local 909. He joins us now by telephone. Thank you, sir. How is that drive going?</s>FRANK HAMMER, FMR. PRES. UAW LOCAL 909: It's been real smooth. Thank you.</s>LEMON: Where are you now?</s>HAMMER: Just traveling east from Toledo.</s>LEMON: East from Toledo? Is that correct?</s>HAMMER: Yes, we're driving east from Toledo going...</s>LEMON: You're driving east...</s>HAMMER: Heading toward Cleveland.</s>LEMON: How many people do you have in the caravan with you? How many cars? How many people?</s>HAMMER: We have four cars. There will be other cars joining us from -- we're picking up some folks in Ohio and we think there's a couple more cars as well.</s>LEMON: Your goal is to meet with media reps, is that right? Meet with congressional reps...</s>HAMMER: That's correct.</s>LEMON: ... and to convey your concerns about, about what? Getting a bailout, not getting a bailout -- what are your concerns?</s>HAMMER: Well, our concerns are that we're hoping that people understand what's really going on and we feel that we have -- that autoworkers have been misrepresented in the media.</s>LEMON: How so?</s>HAMMER: And I think that's what accounts for the 60 percent that are opposed to the bailout. Possibly...</s>LEMON: Mr. Hammer?</s>HAMMER: Pardon me?</s>LEMON: Mr. Hammer, how have you been misrepresented in the media?</s>HAMMER: Well, I think the picture that -- Americans have of autoworkers is that, you know, we're fat and lazy and overpaid. And that's the impression that are getting across the media. And I think that's very unfortunate because as far as we're concerned, all autoworkers in this country, and I'm including the ones that work in Toyota and Nissan and Honda, we pretty much all have the same desires and the same wishes for our families, for our communities, and much of what workers in this country receive in the way of wages and benefits have been the result of the contracts that UAW members have gotten with the Detroit three. And we see a widdling away of those gains and benefits that we've won in past contracts. A year ago, we gave up a tremendous amount, we gave up...</s>LEMON: And Mr. Hammer...</s>HAMMER: Pardon me?</s>LEMON: I have to ask you this. We're aware of some of the concessions that you made and that are continuing to make, and a lot of people are being forced to make concessions when it comes to jobs. I don't know, personally if I weren't watching this, that I think that, you know, autoworkers have been portrayed as fat and lazy. Now, on the other hand, the companies you work for, it's -- their criticism is that the companies you work for have not really made themselves viable for this particular century, for greener cars, for cars that use less gas, that you haven't adapted appropriately and that's why you're in the mess that you're in now.</s>HAMMER: I think there's a lot of truth to that. I think that they've come to the table late in addressing issues, for example, of global warming and what the effects of that are on transportation industry in this country. And to some extent, companies have enablers that have enabled them to resist changes and CAFE standards, for example.</s>LEMON: Right.</s>HAMMER: We understand that. And one of the reasons we're going to Washington is that we believe that the auto industry, as rank and file workers, we in the auto industry needs to change and that we want to explain autoworkers are behind those changes. We want the big three to be much more compatible with the 21st century.</s>LEMON: OK.</s>HAMMER: And we want to see some of the plants that are inevitably going to close to be converted to -- the section of a high speed rail systems so that we can actually have a choice in this country...</s>LEMON: OK.</s>HAMMER: ... whether we want to travel by rail or whether we want to travel by private automobile.</s>LEMON: All right. Frank Hammer, retired former president of UAW Local 909. Heading a caravan from Detroit to Washington. We appreciate it. Travel safety, OK?</s>HAMMER: Thank you very much.</s>LEMON: All right. Thank you. Let's talk now about taking a different approach to a job search.</s>PAUL NAWROCKI, LOOKING FOR WORK: What I was doing wasn't working. When you're doing something and it doesn't work, you have to do something different.</s>LEMON: Well, we have been telling you about Paul Nawrocki. We told you about him last night, his story, and millions of viewers now checking out his story on CNN.com. And we're taking a closer look tonight at some of the lessons we can all learn in this recession. Also, we want to know what's on your mind tonight. Make sure you log on and join the conversation. Be a part of our big community here we have on this show. Logon to Twitter, on to Facebook, MySpace, iReport.com and tell us what you're thinking. We got lots of responses yesterday and we appreciate every single one of them.