Black Workers Demand Jobs In Westside Chicago Publicly Funded T.I.F. Districts

    CHICAGO, IL, February 16, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ --

When: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH, 2017 10:30 AM

Where: In Front of Mercury Plastics, 4535 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60639

Who: Black Workers Matter, a diverse independent movement fighting for better jobs and against discrimination

What: PRESS CONFERENCE Westside Chicago black Workers who feel shut out of jobs in publicly subsidized TIF districts return to factory where police were called on them when they tried to apply as a group.

CHICAGO A movement of African-American workers on Chicago's Westside are going back to neighborhood employer Mercury Plastics to turn in applications and hold a press conference. The press conference is happening one week after police were called on them when they tried to apply to Mercury Plastics and meet with the owner.

In late January, after being told Mercury Plastics was hiring, 16 African American workers followed protocol and applied through Mercury's agency Flexible Staffing in Melrose Park. After none were hired, the workers applied directly to Mercury last week. Workers collected applications, asked repeatedly to speak with the owner, and left. As the workers left, four CPD vehicles responded to a call presumably made by the company and demanded the departure of an Austin Weekly News reporter covering the incident.

Mercury Plastics has been the recipient of public subsidy through several City of Chicago TIF Small Business Improvement Grants. Last year, Mercury Plastics was accused of asking staffing agencies to racially discriminate: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/06/us/lawsuit-alleges-discrimination-against-blacks-at-national-job-agency.html?_r=0

Contact: Keia Giles, 773-812-9433, [email protected]

# # #