Levi's workers pick up paychecks on plant's final day

San Antonio Express-News ^ | 01/08/2004 | Elizabeth Allen

[Holly_P]

On the last official day of operations at the last Levi’s plant in the United States, Martha Huizar and Armandina Rodriguez showed up together to pick up their final paychecks after 23 years.

The two women were among hundreds who finalized paperwork and talked to potential employers at a job fair sponsored by Alamo Workforce Development at the Levi’s plant on Old Highway 90. The company announced in September that it would close the San Antonio plant.

“We weren’t surprised,” Huizar said. “We were like, well, it’s time to go on with our lives. We’d always heard rumors.” About 20 employers manned booths at the job fair, said Ramon and Sunita Trevino, who atttended the fair representing Primerica Financial Services.

Levi’s is following many U.S. garment manufacturers that now outsource their products to factories in other countries where labor is cheaper.

[BenLurkin]

Ping

[StatesEnemy]

501 DOA

[Thebaddog]

We're being NAFTA'd from all sides. Life goes on.

[Support Free Republic]

Hey, I don't mean to be nosey...

... but I'd really like some bacon,
or some help for FR.

[GluteusMax]

We're being NAFTA'd from all sides.

Just wait'll FTAA kicks in.

[snopercod]

I know I'm setting myself up here, but when I went to college, Levi's cost $4.95 a pair.

[angkor]

outsource their products to factories in other countries where labor is cheaper.

No offense, but I can buy a pair of jeans in SE Asia for $4 to $6 USD. Retail, off the shelf.

[Eris]

Yawn.

[Bobby777]

was it Levi's that bashed the Boy Scouts of America for not allowing gay leaders? ... IIRC it was ... anybody remember?

but, I hate to see Americans losing jobs ...

[ex-snook]

OPEN ASSIGNMENT
MISSION TO SAVE AMERICAN JOBS
January 8, 2004

President Bush:

Mr. President your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to recover the 3+ million jobs lost on your watch. You are to find where they went, recover them, and prevent this from happening again.

You have until November 2004 to complete this mission.

If you choose not to accept this mission, or are incapable of performing, don't run in the GOP Primary so another Republican can accept this important mission for America.

American Citizen Voter

PS Ronald Reagan was the last Republican to understand. Ross Perot sent a warning to your Dad but since then all we hear is the mantra, 'Perot gave us Clinton'. Actually your Dad gave us Perot.

[cajun-jack]

and the ones being made outside this country are worth about that now, but yu can't buy them for that

[snopercod]

The ones I wear now take a lot more canvas than they did back then, so I can understand the price increase ;-)

[Kiss Me Hardy]

Yep, that was Levi's -- and they used to boast about all the wonderful things they did for their employees, even as they market share and profits declined. They were arrogant, too -- folks will always wear Levis, so why worry? Meanwhile, the brand lost a lot of its iconic appeal and jeans as a whole lost market share to Dockers etc.

The stock tanked, shareholders stupid enough to stick around got screwed, and when everything went pear-shaped, the Buchanites and Perot types start whining about Levis being screwed by foreign sweatshops.

Wrong. Levis screwed itself right here in the USA.

[Oorang]

I know this article is about outsourcing of jobs, but, I wonder how many customers Levi's alienated when Levi Corp. became a major contributor to Handgun Control Inc.?
2nd amendment folks tend to notice and not forget such things. Remember the downward spiral of K-Mart?

[Indrid Cold]

They're $8 on eBay, gently used.

[Bobby777]

Yep ... Levi's used to be my favorite jeans, but when they issued a corporate statement against the Boy Scouts they dropped a few places in my preferences, that's for sure ...

and I won't give any money to the United Way since they also snubbed the Boy Scouts ... thanks for confirming ...

[StACase]

...I won't give any money to the United Way since they also snubbed the Boy Scouts...

I give to the Boy Scouts via the United Way. I also sent the local United Way a letter a while back stating that I woud in a very public way NOT GIVE through them to any charity if they dropped the Boy Scouts.

So far so good!

I understand your point though, many United Way organizations around the country have dropped the Boy Scouts. I won't punish the local as long as Scouting is included here.

[Bobby777]

I thought they were cutting off or reducing funding ... either way, I'd give my money to the Boy Scouts directly ... but that's just me ...

I know United Way supports good causes ... many of them, anyway, are good ...

[goodnesswins]

YES, you are correct....buh bye...Levi....