It’s a scenario that’s become all too familiar for American workers. To turn larger profits, corporations cut decent paying jobs and run off to places where doing business is cheaper. Local economies are weakened and men and women are laid off and left to fend for themselves.

In recent years, many workers have felt powerless to reverse the trend. But Carl Rosen, Western Region President of the United Electrical Workers (UE) says the on-going sit-in at the Chicago Republic Windows and Doors factory has “struck a chord” among workers.

“We know what’s wrong with the economy,” Rosen said this afternoon. “All of the money has gone to the top and the [$700 billion federal] bailout has made it worse.”

MSNBC’s Hardball host Chris Matthews tonight asked Illinois’ own U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky if the Chicago sit-in was “the beginning of a workers revolt in this country against these layoffs?” Watch her response:

Republic glass cutter Raul Flores tells us the tide is turning. And he’s a prime example.

For seven years, Flores has held down a good job at the profitable factory. When Republic officials closed down abruptly last week—stiffing him on health benefits and four weeks worth of wages and vacation pay—he quickly joined the ranks of the discontented.

“We’re showing the world that we’re not going to put our heads down [any] more,” Flores told us. “Companies are trying to get out of paying workers. We’re not going to let that happen.”

With the government offering $700 billion in financial assistance, largely to major investment firms, labor leaders are asking why tax dollars aren’t being properly used to stabilize the companies on which working families depend. They seized on the fact that Bank of America (BOA) had decided to discontinue a $5 million line of credit to Republic despite receiving a $34 billion pledge in the bailout package.

Amid loads of political pressure, BOA issued a statement today calling on Republic executives to honor its employee obligations. But that decision came only after executives decided to invest $9 billion of the $34 billion they’ve been promised overseas.

“The reason we sent (BOA) this money is so they can send money to companies like Republic … so we can save millions of jobs in the U.S.” Sen. Dick Durbin told members of the press as he swung through the Republic factory this morning. “The taxpayer money going to these banks is not for dividends and not for executive pay.”

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1 President Thomas Balanoff joined the growing chorus of labor leaders who are rallying workers and elected officials to stand up to corporate interests and ensure that workers get an honest shot at helping to rebuild the nation’s economy.  (Full disclosure: the SEIU Illinois State Council sponsors this website.)

“Is this going to be a top down recovery or a bottom up recovery?” he said. “All we’re asking them to do is invest in American workers.”