PONTIAC - A steady rainfall Tuesday morning didn't stop hundreds of people from applying for jobs at the Interlake-Mecalux plant parking lot in Pontiac. | Photo gallery | Video

Anywhere from 100 to 300 people initially waited in line for a chance to work at the shelving and storage unit manufacturing plant, including many who had lost their jobs there Friday when the plant closed under its previous owner.

Among them was Cliff Slof of Pontiac, who had worked at the United Fixtures/Interlake plant 17 years. He said the new management didn't offer details on jobs, but he filled out a general application.

"I might be interested in seeing what they have to offer," said Slof, noting he needed health insurance and the economy doesn't offer many job options.

Interlake-Mecalux has not announced how many workers will be hired and what the pay and benefits will be. An official at the plant referred questions to company offices in Chicago, which did not return phone calls Tuesday.

Meanwhile, across the street, about 75 former plant employees and other workers stood under umbrellas at a union-organized rally. They said they wanted to raise awareness of the fact that longtime employees had to reapply with no guarantee of comparable jobs or pay.

Some vowed to take chances elsewhere, while others planned to re-apply.

Among those at the rally was Mark Rios, 58, of Pontiac, who worked at Interlake for three decades. He said he's at a loss for what to do next.

"I think this is just them trying to break our union," he said. "I made $16.84 an hour. I spent my life there. I'm 58, what am I going to do now?

"I worked here for 30 years to raise my kids, buy a house," Rios said. "It was the American dream. What are we telling kids now? Honesty isn't fair?"

The Spanish company Mecalux Inc. acquired the plant's bankrupt parent company. The work force was terminated Friday and union contracts were dissolved as part of the transition, and the new owner began accepting applications at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

At Tuesday's rally, former Interlake employees and others carried neon green posters. Written in marker were messages, including "A union worker is a good worker" and "Bankruptcy law equals corporate theft."

United Auto Workers Local 2488 President Ralph Timan said the group's public rally was in response to bankruptcy laws that he said left the workers unprotected. His local represents about 230 former Interlake employees

"They (Mecalux) considered it a good investment, putting these workers out," he said.

Those at the union rally said they had no quarrel with people choosing to re-apply.

"People have to do what they need to for their families," said Rios, noting some are friends with whom he worked for many years. "But we're out here to raise awareness that what happened isn't right."

Former Interlake welder Alicia Janssen, who plans to enroll at Heartland Community College's Pontiac campus, said she was disappointed that the community didn't show support for Interlake workers the way it did for workers at Pontiac Correctional Center, which has been threatened with closure.

"I was out on the courthouse lawn (to show support) for the prison," Janssen said.

Pontiac Mayor Scott McCoy said he does support the former Interlake workers and has been involved in the situation since December. But he said that as mayor he also has to look out for the incoming company's interests and the community's interests.

"I know that it's not ideal. It's a tough pill to swallow (for the workers.) Going bankrupt is a bad scenario, but it happens," McCoy said. "If they just closed the door, then everyone would be out of jobs and that would be worse."