Progress Illinois

We already knew Richard Gillman was a shady operator. We watched as the then-CEO of Republic Windows and Doors abruptly closed his Chicago factory last December, stiffing 250 employees on their paychecks, vacation time, and benefits -- just in time for the holidays. We then learned that Gillman had taken much of the Republic Windows equipment to Iowa and started a new company in an apparent effort to avoid paying union-negotiated wages. The new plant operated for only two months before Gillman shut it down as well, defaulting on a $1 million mortgage.

Now, eight months later, the Cook County state's attorney's office says Gillman broke the law when he moved the Republic Windows equipment across state lines.  They arrested him yesterday.

In a bond hearing this morning, prosecutors testified that Gillman, along with other company officials, absconded with 10 semi-trailers full of equipment and conspired to launder company money through shell corporations to avoid paying out its creditors, which include JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, and General Electric. The charges against Gillman include mail fraud, money laundering, organizing and continuing a financial crime enterprise, and felony theft charges. In turn, Judge Peggy Chiampas set Gillman's bail at a staggering $10 million.

United Electrical Workers Local 1110, which fought for months to help the Republic Windows workers recoup their wages and benefits, responded to the news today. From a release:

Corruption and abuse of workers rights is rampant in corporate America.  Very often where you see violations of workers rights there are other corporate crimes and poor conditions as well.  Republic Windows and Doors is just one example of something that happens routinely to working people.  UE members at Republic Windows and Doors organized and fought back against abuse and won.

We hope to see justice served in this case, but we know that many other workers suffer and deserve justice as well.  In part that can come about labor law reform that would ensure, for the first time, penalties for violations of labor law and by aggressively holding corporations accountable when they violate our rights.

"We feel like justice has finally come and we all hope that this is the beginning of more bosses being held accountable for their crimes against workers", said Melvin Maclin, Vice-President of UE Local 1110 and a former Republic Windows and Doors worker.

Two unnamed co-conspirators who allegedly participated in the scheme are also under investigation. This afternoon, Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez and Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis are holding a press conference to discuss the case. Stay tuned.