Nearly 4,000 jobs were saved with court approval of the sale of Chicago-based Hartmarx Corporation to the British firm Emerisque late last week. Emerisque announced plans before the deal to keep many of Hartmarx's Workers United-represented workers.

Earlier this year, workers voted to occupy their factories to prevent Wells Fargo Bank from liquidating the menswear manufacturing company. "The workers deserve this victory," said Ruby Sims, a Hartmarx employee for 31 years, and one of the Des Plaines plant's union organizers. "This is an important milestone for all of us."

"When the time came, you stood up," SEIU Illinois State Council President Tom Balanoff told Hartmarx workers at a rally yesterday. "You said, they're not going to close our factory. You said, we're not going to let you put us on the street. You said, we're not going to let them do this to our children. You stood up and fought. And you know what, brothers and sisters? You won." Watch highlights from a victory rally with workers, Illinois State Council President Tom Balanoff, and members of Congress.