Following the flurry of recent reports on the future of Illinois-based Hart Schaffner Marx, the pressure has been mounting on Wells Fargo, the company's main creditor, to help them avoid liquidation.

As we recounted yesterday, the 120-year-old suitmaker is currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has attracted three potential bidders -- two of which want to revitalize the company and another that reportedly favors liquidation.  Recent reports indicated that Wells Fargo, which provided a "debtor in possession" loan to keep operations afloat during the restructuring, has been leaning towards the idea of liquidation. This option would provide them with a quick return but also result in the loss of over 3,000 jobs nationwide. The bank -- which accepted $25 billion in federal bailout funds and reported a first quarter return -- will likely select a "stalking horse" bidder this week.

The union that represents HartMarx's 1,000 Illinois employees, Workers United, has been ramping up efforts to save the company.  Helping out has been Rep. Phil Hare, who worked at HartMarx's Rock Island factory for 13 years before entering politics.  Today, Rep. Jan Schakowsky leant a hand as well. 

In an interview moments ago, the Illinois congresswoman told us she spoke with Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf this afternoon. "I made it clear that I had thought, even without the $25 billion they got in TARP funds, we wanted him to take into consideration that jobs would be lost and to accept a bid that would actually keep Hartmarx open," she said.  Stumpf apparently told Schakowsky that he has an obligation to his shareholders.  Her response: "I reminded him that taxpayers, including people who work at Hartmarx, have a stake in this too and are helping to bail out the company."

Stumpf told Schakowsky that he had also received calls from House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank and Sen. Chuck Schumer.  She voiced hope that the involvement of these members of Congress "will itself be an incentive for [Wells Fargo] to do the right thing."

Like Hare, Schakowsky has a personal connection to the company: "My great-aunt, who came to this county in the beginning of the last century, had her very first job at Hart Schaffner Marx.  And shortly after getting on the job, all the women walked out on strike.  She walked out with them and, when they came back, they got higher wages.  She was a union maid from there on out."  

ABC 7 visited HartMarx's Des Plaines factory today and talked to several workers who expressed hope that the company will make it through this rough patch:

"The economy is down now, but in a given situation I actually believe that things are going to change and we should have a chance to prove that this company can survive," said Ruby Sims, Hartmarx employee for 31 years.

"You know, this company was there in 1887," Schakowsky said to us.  "You don't just snap your fingers and let it go up in smoke.  Everybody should be pulling together to make sure we save it."

There should be more brewing on this front later in the week.  We'll keep you updated.

Full disclosure: Workers United, which presents the Hartmarx workers, is an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union.  The SEIU Illinois State Council sponsors this website.