Progress Illinois

Rep. Phil Hare takes to the op-ed pages of the Tribune today to call attention to the uncertain future of suitmaker Hart Schaffner Marx, where he himself worked for 13 years on the cutting floor.  From his piece:

There are three companies bidding for the right to own Hartmarx. Two of them would keep the company together. They believe there is strong logic for continuing operations because of Hartmarx's reputation. The third bidder prefers liquidation -- an outcome that would result in the loss of thousands of jobs, many in Illinois.

I recently learned that Hartmarx's main creditor -- Wells Fargo & Co. -- is leaning toward the liquidation route. This is unacceptable. Wells Fargo has received $25 billion in taxpayer assistance through TARP. In other words, the workers Wells Fargo may throw out on the street have been subsidizing its operations during these tough economic times. So much for returning the favor.

The Sun-Times reported today that one of those companies interested in keeping Hartmarx intact let its bid expire this week.  We'll try to get more information on that later today.  We'll also be posting video from the planned vigil outside the Hartmarx factory in Des Plaines this afternoon, so stay tuned.

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.