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Dealership's Employees Picket Bank

100 Employees Of Premier KIA Out of Work Since Friday Afternoon

POSTED: Tuesday, October 13, 2009
UPDATED: 5:54 pm EDT October 13, 2009

Chanting "Bank of America took my job," several employees of a car dealership picketed outside the bank's downtown office on Tuesday.

The protesters were among 100 employees of Premier KIA out of work since Friday afternoon when a judge ordered the dealership closed. They said Bank of America's corporate greed is to blame for their unemployment.

"They just came right in and closed our dealership ... gave us 15 minutes to get out with our personal belongings," said employee Kathie Shumer. "It was incredible."

The bank told a judge that the dealership owes more than $2 million on a line of credit that expired in July 2008. The money was used to finance new car inventory.

After hearing from a receiver overseeing the property and lawyers for the dealership, the judge found the loan in default, ordered the dealership closed and its assets frozen.

Some of these marching with signs said they have worked at the dealership for years and the closure is putting their families in a financial bind.

"It's affecting everything," said Sam Soltani, holding a toddler in his arms. "I'm behind on my mortgage right now and I don't have enough money to buy food and diapers for this young son."

These picketers hope Premier's ownership will petition to have the car lot reopened and the courts will intervene again.

In addition to the employees, customers who prepaid for merchandise are also affected by the dealership's closure.

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