The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced earlier this week that a Chicago-based manufacturing company, Republic Windows & Doors, violated national labor laws when it shut down its unionized plant and relocated operations to a non-union company in Iowa. Republic became the focus of national attention in December after a six-day sit-in by workers that even elicited support from President Barack Obama. The NLRB found that Republic created Iowa-based Echo Windows as “an alter-ego entity” so the company could avoid its collective bargaining obligations with the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Local 1110. Republic must now reach a settlement with the union, or else the NLRB will issue a formal complaint against it. Republic blamed the plant closing on Bank of America for cutting off its credit line.