$1.75 million deal ends Chicago sit-in

CHICAGO - Workers have approved a $1.75 million agreement, ending a sit-in that lasted six days at a Chicago window-and-door factory.

Workers began the sit-in after the plant gave them three days' notice that it was closing.

Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D., Ill.) said yesterday that each former Republic Windows & Doors employee would get eight weeks' salary, all accrued vacation pay, and two months' paid health care. That works out to about $7,000 per worker, he said.

The plant owners, union leaders and Bank of America forged the deal. Gutierrez said $1.75 million would go into an escrow account for the workers. Bank of America spokeswoman Julie Westermann said her company lent $1.35 million. Gutierrez said JPMorgan Chase & Co. added $400,000.