A lunch hour picket went up Monday at in the shadow of the massive Bank of America Plaza in Midtown Atlanta demanding a bailout for workers, not banks. The demonstration coincided with Jobs with Justice's call for a week of action for a "People's Bailout" as well as expressing solidarity with 200 laid-off workers at Chicago's Republic Window & Glass who have occupied their factory since Friday.

These workers, members of United Electrical Workers local 1110, faced sudden unemployment when the company announced it planned to close with just three days notice. Nearly <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/12/08/daily13.html">2 million</a> other workers in the United States have been laid off this year as global capitalism's entered its worst crisis since the Great Depression.

The company claimed that it was forced to close up shop due to a downturn in the construction industry and because Bank of America refused a loan to continue operations. Yet, the government recently handed over $25 billion to Bank of America, and Republic workers reported management removing machinery from the past few weeks in anticipation of a closure - not the abrupt notice they gave workers.

Rather than walk out, the workers voted to stage a sit in until their demands are met. Over the weekend, community supporters rallied outside the factory and word of the occupation spread like wildfire over the internet.

The picket this afternoon was organized as an emergency show of support for this heroic struggle; further action will be taken if Republic and Bank of America continue to value their profits over people.