Ethan Allen Cuts 223 Jobs

The Caledonian-Record News ^ | May 1, 2002 | CARLA OCCASO

[Ron In Vermont]

Sixty-nine workers at the Orleans plant and 154 workers at the Randolph plant of Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. will lose their jobs effective July 19...

If they can get the same job done cheaper in China, there is no barrier to move production to China. (There is) no incentive to keep it in the United States," he said. ..

As for how Ethan Allen is doing financially, profits for the company have risen 15 percent over the past year, according to the Bloomberg News archive...

Sen. Vincent Illuzzi, R-Essex-Orleans said Vermont workers are experiencing first-hand the results of the North American Free Trade Agreement under which China is considered a preferred nation. "It goes back to whether free trade will ruin America," he said.

[Ron In Vermont]

Sixty-nine workers at the Orleans plant and 154 workers at the Randolph plant of Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. will lose their jobs effective July 19...

If they can get the same job done cheaper in China, there is no barrier to move production to China. (There is) no incentive to keep it in the United States," he said. ..

As for how Ethan Allen is doing financially, profits for the company have risen 15 percent over the past year, according to the Bloomberg News archive...

Sen. Vincent Illuzzi, R-Essex-Orleans said Vermont workers are experiencing first-hand the results of the North American Free Trade Agreement under which China is considered a preferred nation. "It goes back to whether free trade will ruin America," he said.

[Alberta's Child]

Either I'm ignorant of the facts, or Senator Illuzzi is a moron. What does China have to do with the North American Free Trade Agreement? I thought this only involved the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Maybe Vermonters should look at themselves instead of complaining about free trade agreements. Everything I've heard tells me that it is one of the worst states to do business in the U.S.

[exdemrat]

The treehuggers and democrats have ruined Vermont business.

There are still some good people in Vermont but the imported liberals are close to a complete takeover.

They need another Ethan Allen to lead them.

[Cable225]

Either I'm ignorant of the facts, or Senator Illuzzi is a moron. What does China have to do with the North American Free Trade Agreement? I thought this only involved the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

I was wondering the same thing. NAFTA does not involve China, and for anyone to make that claim is an idiot.

[Registered]

Did you hire Ron?

[wingnuts'nbolts]

It is not so amaziing that Ethan Allen is doing this. They were holdouts. Most furniture factories have laid off thousands and have warehouses to put the chinese made furniture in for distribution.

[Willie Green]

WG, Inc. has branch locations nationwide.