Basket-maker announces 650 more layoffs

[UpInArms]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/9720926.htm?1c

NEWARK, Ohio - The Longaberger Co. announced a third round of layoffs in less than two weeks and said it will no longer make baskets at its Hartville plant.

The company, the nation's largest handmade basket-maker, said Monday it will furlough 650 workers at its Frazeysburg facility for about six weeks to reduce surplus inventory. The layoffs are to start next month.

Employees will keep their benefits during the layoff, company spokeswoman Bonny Fowler said.

"We hope they can come back earlier, depending on conditions," Fowler said.

The announcement comes on the heels of 1,000 job cuts at its manufacturing plants and headquarters in Newark, about 30 miles east of Columbus. The privately held Longaberger employed 8,300 people in 2000 but now has about 4,500 workers.

...more...

guess they're not planning on a big holiday sales season :eyes:

[markus]

1. Oh, my goodness

What will all the college football players do now with their college educations?

[Cicero]

2. Now what will I do?...

...with this degree in Underwater Basketweaving??

:crazy:

Later,

[mhr]

3. The Bush Jobs Machine Rolls On

One of these days even the Freepers will begin to realize that Bush has destroyed their economic opportunity and security.

Pray that day comes before the election.

[Sub Atomic]

4. That day may be soon

as it now looks like one of the major professions of choice for the freeps is now going away.

[mongo]

5. This hurts

These folks are my customers....

Don't knock basketweaving as a profession. These folks were making a good wage (especially for this area).

[progressivebydesign]

11. I love the Longaberger baskets. Some DUers aren't familiar with them

The people responding have not seen them.. they really are a model of American workmanship... something to be proud of, nowadays. Actual products, made by hand, by actual Americans. No wonder they couldn't compete anymore.

I just restyled a home for sale, and the client was a collector and former seller of those baskets.. she had hundreds. I think, sometimes, that they get oversaturated... and now I see knock offs of them in all the discount stores...

Sad to see another traditional American product plunging...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. Made in America by Americans...

for decent compensation. I'm deeply sorry to hear about this.

[theHandpuppet]

6. Gee, Ohio...

A few more thousand layoffs of Buckeye workers should really secure Ohio for Bush!

I don't get it... really I don't.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

7. sure they are, just the baskets will be made in India

that's all.

[maxsolomon]

8. how many baskets does one country need?

considering that NO ONE goes picknicking anymore.

their HQ building is a crime against nature.

[truth2power]

17. They make more than picnic baskets.

I have a few and those are in use. They're sturdy and attractive. Wish I could afford more - they're really pricey.

[sofa king]

9. Heh, there's a liberal joke in here somewhere....

"But, what will I do with my degree now?"

What are you looking at? If we can't laugh at ourselves, who will?

Granted, it's easier to laugh when things are funny, but... um, yeah. I'll be upstairs sorting my socks if you need me.

[Veggie Meathead]

10. Looks like HiTech doesn't work and Lo Tech doesn't work

May be No Tech will work!

[Morning Dew]

12. We wouldn't have to hear about layoffs . . .

if only we could outsource all the jobs.

[Love Bug]

13. Goes to show how much less discretionary income folks have

Longaberger baskets are beautiful but expensive, so they are usually a collectible item. People just don't have as much money as they used to for stuff like this, what with rising food, health care and fuel costs.

[llmart]

15. You took the words right out of my mouth...

This is the domino effect of people not having discretionary money. I know I used to, during the Clinton years, have lots of extra money for lots of things, but since Bush stole office my husband and I have been putting anything extra in a good old-fashioned savings passbook account. And believe me, we have very little extra.

It was pointed out once before by many DU'ers that Longaberger is a right wing Repug company, so I don't feel sorry for them. And all these goofy women who thought they were making an "investment" by buying this overpriced crap that no one needs, are really kidding themselves if they think they've got a gold mine (that goes for the Beanie Baby crap, too.)

[RivetJoint]

16. I DO feel sorry for people

who lost their jobs. Nice compassion you have there; not all the WORKERS are right wingers.

[jayfish]

22. My Wife Bought One Because She Likes Them.

They are really quite nice. Of course that was during the Clinton Admin. If she brought a catalog home today it would be summarily shredded.

Jay

[Love Bug]

26. My sister owns several of these baskets

They do tend to increase in value, so she can sell them on Ebay if she has to. She uses them, so they don't just sit around empty. I have a couple, myself. :-)

A repug company? Well, Bush was a bad investment for them, wasn't he? It's a shame the workers (again!) pay for the bad choices of management.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

18. Yep. Philharmonics shutting down all over the country

since 9/11, in yet another indicator of this reduced spending.

[goodboy]

19. I wonder if they'll be voting for *....

on edit: hello fellow ohio DU'ers...I'm in Columbus...any plans for a debate-night party?

[Love Bug]

28. Hello, Ohio DUer!

I'm in another swing state, myself--Minnesota. Are you getting as tired as I am with the weekly visits by *?

If you are looking for a debate party, have you asked in the Ohio thread in the States forum? Should be some action there.

[goodboy]

30. hey...

Everytime * comes here, I protest him. I will never tire of holding that bastard accountable for what he's done to our world.
I think I will ask in the ohio forum.

[Unperson 309]

20. But.... But.... What'll we travel To HeLL In, NOW?!!

sNIFF!

309

[yardwork]

21. Longaberger is one of the few major employers in a depressed area

This is a huge blow to the economy of east-central Ohio. Look at the above numbers - nearly 4,000 people have lost their jobs at this one company in less than four years!

This part of Ohio is also very conservative and fundamentalist Christian - it would be expected to be a base of support for chimpy. I wonder if people will vote for * anyway. It's so hard to get people to see the truth when the Rove-machine stops at nothing to lie and cheat.

[Tangledog]

31. Wonder why they chose this moment?

This is a right-wing company in a pivotal state ... seems weird that they didn't wait until November 3 to pull the plunger.

Whether it hurts B* or not, it's lousy to see mass layoffs like that. It means more domestic violence, more people sitting around with too much time on their hands, more long-established neighborhoods vanishing.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

33. Business is business, if the numbers don't make it this

quarter, it has to be done.

[Peter1x9]

23. woohoo, 1650 new jobs in India

Bush always says new jobs are being created and the economy is getting better. And he's correct. He just doesn't say that it's the Indian economy.

[Bluebear]

24. Look for "MADE IN CHINA" on your Longabergers

After all, outsourcing is good for us, Bush said so.

[Love Bug]

29. It doesn't sound like they are outsourcing just cutting production

[henslee]

25. Basket maker, not the casket maker.

[0007]

27. No basket for Kenny

[KamaAina]

32. It's official. The Bush* economy is now a basket case.

:evilgrin: