Sears won a second round ofbankruptcy financing this week, and says it will need another $239million in order to keep operating 505 stores beginning next year.(Photo: iStock)

(Bloomberg) — Employees of Sears Holdings Corp., inspired by the hardshipfund for workers affected by the collapse of Toys “R” Us Inc., areasking Chairman Eddie Lampert and the firms involved in the chain'sbankruptcy to preserve jobs and stores as well as guaranteeseverance pay and pensions.

“While we understand that Sears and Kmart must make changes tosurvive, we do not believe it is fair that financial firms stand toprofit from Sears's bankruptcy while employees like us are asked tosacrifice,” the workers said in a letter addressed to Lampert. Itwas signed by 62 current and former employees.

Related: Warren: Toys R Us investors should augmentworker fund

Sears says it has no plans to liquidate after filing for Chapter11 court protection in October, but it has been closing stores andcutting jobs as part of that process. It's still working to keepseveral hundred outlets alive as part of Lampert's plan to buy thecompany out of bankruptcy. Sears has lost billions of dollars sinceLampert combined the Hoffman Estates, Illinois-based company withKmart in 2005.

“Protecting the interests of Sears' associates and allstakeholders has and will continue to be a priority for themanagement, board and restructuring committee of Sears,” a companyspokesperson said.

Related: 2 Sears pension plans might not survivebankruptcy proceedings

KKR & Co. and Bain Capital, the two buyout firms that tookToys “R” Us private, said earlier this month that they will eachkick in $10 million to a fund for workers who lost their jobs whenthe retailer collapsed last year. Those contributions followedmonths of pressure from former employees and their representatives,including the Organization United For Respect and its Rise UpRetail campaign, which are now teaming up with the Searsemployees.

Sears won a second round of bankruptcy financing this week, andsays it will need another $239 million in order to keep operating505 stores beginning next year. Lampert is teaming up with investorand debtholder Cyrus Capital Partners to make the bid to buy andoperate those stores, Bloomberg has reported.

“We want Sears and the bankruptcy court to be more aware of theeffect this is having on workers. This isn't just about dollars, weare people,” Sheila Brewer, a former Kmart employee, said in aseparate news release from Rise Up Retail.

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