WestPoint Stevens to layoff more than 1300 from Clemson plant (2500 total)

[UpInArms]

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2791967

(Burlington, NC-AP) Jan. 10, 2005 - Bedding and bath textile maker WestPoint Stevens said Monday it will cut almost 2500 jobs and close plants in four states because of the January 1st end of worldwide quotas limiting cheap imports.

The West Point, Georgia-based maker of brands including Martex, Stevens and Lady Pepperell will close plants in Burlington, North Carolina; Clemson, South Carolina; Middletown, Indiana and Drakes Branch, Virginia.

About 560 will lose their jobs in Burlington, 1345 in Clemson, 450 in Drakes Branch, and 110 in Middletown. The company said the plants are expected to close by late March or early April.

Oconee County economic development director Jim Alexander says the loss of the county's biggest employer could double the county's unemployment rate. It was 7.1 percent in November.

The closings and layoffs "are directly related to the removal of textile quotas from low-wage countries," the company said in a statement. Much of the work will be shifted overseas.

...more...

[Florida_Geek]

1. All good Red States

'Burlington, North Carolina; Clemson, South Carolina; Middletown, Indiana and Drakes Branch, Virginia. "

[LostinVA]

2. Oy Vey

I lived in NC for 17 years, and my dad is in textile r&d in NC. He's had 7 businesses in 15 years close on him and move out of the country. He's lucky in that he does something very, very specialized. Also, his current business now is based in the blue state of Massachusetts, is privately owned, and has a clause written in the governing papers that the plant can't be sold or moved out of the USA.

Also, having lived in NC for all of those years, it is safe for me to say that most of the people getting laid off voted for *. I mean, Jesus, these are people who won't even vote unions in to help them because their ministers said they weren't "godly."

[Patiod]

4. Malden Mills?

[LostinVA]

7. No --

Although he knows people that work there -- Ames, out of Lowell, MA. He's in NC, though.

[Patiod]

3. My brother works for them, and is really worried

One of the last big textile manufacturers left in the US.

He wrote to me today, telling me what was going on, and I wrote back with lots of consolations. But couldn't help adding "great Bush economic recovery, though!"

In all honestly , it's not really fair to beat up his Bush-loving ass for what probably would have happened no matter who was elected. The thing is, though, that he's in IT, and a lot of those jobs are being shipped overseas, a tide which might have been at least slowed by a Kerry presidency.

[LostinVA]

8. My Dad Voted for *, too

Even though: he hates the situation in Iraq, is pro-choice & pro-gay rights, and hates what's happened to the economy, and doesn't think * "thinks well on his feet." WHY did he vote for Bush?>??? He said, "I just don't trust Kerry," and "I can't vote for a Democrat -- all they do is give money away to bums."

Okay, don't start! Trust me, my mother and I presented him facts, etc. No good.....

[gratuitous]

5. Stayin' the course!

This is what you voted for, isn't it Indiana? And the Carolinas? You endorsed Bush's presidency, which means you've renewed his man date for moving jobs and manufacturing out of the country. What, you don't like competing for wages with oppressed coolies who will do what you do for pennies on the dollar? (Of course, when they start demanding dimes on the dollar, the plant moves on to somewhere else where folks will work for pennies on the dollar.)

And you didn't think you needed any of that fancy-dan union security because the Overlord family has always been good to the people of ________________ (fill in the name of your town).

Oconee County will go from 7.1% unemployment to 13% or 14%, but those numbers will come down within about six months. As people move away, take minimum wage jobs, or just flat give up. But George Bush, your moral man, is in the White House!

[0007]

6. That about sums it up, other than the fact that most these folk

are too lazy to think for themselves. This is where CNN, FAUX and MSNBC and the likes of Rush Limbaugh's come in with left wing rhetoric that blames the Dem's and Clinton. Good cover for the GOP, 'eh?

[LostinVA]

10. My dad just emailed me

And said, "Every administration for the last 20 years has given our jobs away." i agree that Clinton screwed us over, but I emailed Dad back and said, at least Kerry SAID he was going to try to do something about it.

the good news is I have dual US-Italian citizenship (thanks to my great-grandfather never becoming a US citizen), so when the economy finally tanks for good, I can live in any EU country and teach English.

[0007]

13. Sounds like your in great shape. Good Luck!

[LostinVA]

9. What's Happened in NC

Is that the people CAN'T move away, especially in Western NC, and there are literally NO JOBS there. None. Not even part-time retail jobs. Alot of these people have little education, and all their family close by. They are not moving to Greensboro or Charlotte or RTP. Even if they did... so what? Oh, IF it was a NAFTA move, they can go to school: FOR WHAT??? Not everyone has the inclination to get a degree. And, even if they did: no jobs! The Burlington people at least live in a large Metro area, so they can find something, although the pay will suck, and I'm sure the job'll come with no benefits.

But hey! Those queers can't get married, and Bush is a godly man, so who cares if I lose my house and my health!

[WildClarySage]

11. A lot of those workers did in fact

have post hs vocational training. And *'s answer is more education? How about giving people jobs to match their education level rather than have them invest in yet another training program which will eventually become obsolete also? And damn, I love western NC and most of the people there are great, but there is a huge difference between Kerry's proposals and *'s policies --- * is giving tax breaks to companies that outsource. Kerry might not have been able to stop oustourcing American jobs, but he wasn't encouraging it, either.

[Carolina]

12. call me what you will

flame me if you want, but I don't give a damn any more. Many of those mill workers supported Bush, especially here in SC, so tough on 'em.

Let them keep on believing Rush, watching FOX or whatever ... God will provide or so they better hope!