Hartmarx employees voted unanimously today to occupy their workplace if chief lender Wells Fargo or and its subsidiary Wachovia Bank should try to shut the factory down. "The vote today says Hartmarx workers are going to hold banks accountable for how they spend taxpayers' money and how they contribute to the future of our economy," said Noel Beasley, Executive Vice President of Workers United, an SEIU affiliate, the union that represents the Hartmarx workers.

As Wells Fargo pushes for a bankruptcy closure of the facility, the plight of 3,500 workers employed nationwide at the Chicago-based Hartmarx retail company has captured the attention of state politicians and numerous labor leaders. The workers were joined by Rep. Phil Hare, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and SEIU Illinois State Council president Tom Balanoff at the rally held after the "sit in" vote at the Des Plaines, IL plant to rally support for the suit maker label, which made the custom-made dark-navy suit Obama wore on Election Night in Chicago.

"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," said Rep. Phil Hare, who worked at a Hartmarx factory as a fabric cutter for 13 years. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Wells Fargo has reportedly denied payment to Hartmarx's fabric suppliers since December 2008. The factory filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January. State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias also spoke to the workers, saying he will press Hartmarx factories located in other states to take the bank off its list of preferred vendors if it forces the menswear plant into liquidation.

At the rally, more than 500 Hartmarx workers packed the factory cafeteria to applaud the vote outcome, shouting their support and displaying signs that said "Bailout money, $25 billion; CEO bonuses, $30 million; Saving our jobs, priceless" and "Banks get bailed out, workers get sold out."

More details about the Hartmarx workers' fight to save their jobs at Huffington Post, New York Times and SEIU's blog, here and here.

Update: There is reportedly more action in the works in support of Hartmarx workers this week, including a hotline for workers at other companies in financial distress and a congressional letter to Treasury Secretary Geithner. Stay tuned!