outsourcing.... we've turned the corner - yeah-right

[radfringe]

Recent job losses in PA:

Furniture Factory Closing in Union County
Tuesday, August 10, UDPATED: 5:45 p.m. -- By Norm Jones
http://wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=2154287

For more than a century Pennsylvania House Furniture has been making furniture but confirmation came Tuesday that production will stop, leaving more than 400 workers without a paycheck. The announcement came the same day Pennsylvania's senior senator was hit by questions. People want to know why our companies keep packing up and heading overseas and how we're going to stop it.

Pennsylvania House is closing three locations in central Pennsylvania. It comes one week after a manufacturer in Luzerne County closed its doors leaving nearly 700 without jobs. The job losses are one reason U.S. Senator Arlen Specter spent his day in our area searching for answers.

The Pennsylvania House reputation is high end, handcrafted colonial furniture. The news of the closure sent shock waves through central Pennsylvania. When Senator Specter showed up in Snyder County to talk about a highway project, people turned the talk to the 425 jobs lost. Specter talked about recent job losses when he met with with members of the Central Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce in Hummels Wharf.
================

Jobs Cut at Sunbank
http://wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=2154885

Sunbank said up to 85 jobs will be lost from the bank's operational offices in Lewisburg and Williamsport.

The streamlining will begin at the end of September or early October. Branch banks will not be affected by the lay-offs.

Sunbank merged with Omega Bank of State College this spring.
==============

last week Techniglass closed it's plant in Pittston, PA -- 700 workers laid off

[Sugarbleus]

1. Did the good Senator have any answers?

So sorry Penn. It seems these job closures are coming faster and faster.. I wonder what's up with that?

[radfringe]

2. the 'good' Senator's answers -

"The question is about manufacturing and it is true that manufacturing jobs are down," the senator said. That question garnered the spotlight from this crowd of more than 100 community and business leaders. "I think what we need to do is have a level playing field," said Specter.

Pennsylvania House will close a factory in Lewisburg and warehouse locations in White Deer and Milton. Officials said foreign competition is to blame; namely China. "The Chinese don't play fair, they subsidize, they dump, they manipulate their currency. I'm proposing legislation that would impose sanctions on the government of China for manipulating currency," the senator said.

Specter has battled the Chinese over steel manufacturing. He said President Bush fought it too and thinks they've won that fight. "The American steel industry has had a chance to reorganize and now workers are back at work and the industry is doing fine," he added.

[JM]

3. Typical modern Republican response

Blame everyone else except American policies.

Arlen, does a level playing field include taking care of our own issues, like lowering the cost of health care, or perhaps eliminating special visas for foreign labor when we have higher unemployment, or even eliminating the tax reward for companies moving out or hiring foreign labor?

Just curious.

JM

[opihimoimoi]

4. Howdy JM, long time ns

Pubs never take blame, always look for distractions distortions... but we knew that, LOL

Come, we go drink.

[JM]

7. Hi Opi!

Yeah...you too...
I have been busy and in self imposed exile.

JM

[opihimoimoi]

8. Well, now that the oicture seems brighter for sure...don't be a stranger

Come on Down....."The Price is Right"

[Speed8098]

5. Specter is tripping

"The American steel industry has had a chance to reorganize and now workers are back at work and the industry is doing fine," he added

He has no clue. Steel prices are still fluctuating up in a pretty wild fashion.

I work in the rolling steel door industry and we are still seeing crazy prices on steel.

If he thinks the steel industry is doing fine, I want what he is smoking.

[JHB]

9. Hey Arlen, if China's cheating so much...

...MAYBE they shouldn't have MFN trade status, and JUST MAYBE American companies should be DIScouraged from doing business with them.

I love how they always blame China for lost jobs but don't even stop for a breath before saying the "solution" is EVEN MORE "free trade" with China.

[Veggie Meathead]

6. Every time we go around a street corner, there is another

shuttered store or a closed factory.

[Bozita]

10. Yep, we've turned the corner. Now we're on a one-way street ...

... heading in the wrong direction.

They don't call it Bushco for nothing.