Posted on 03/08/2006 9:19:50 AM PST by Willie Green
For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.
Little Rock - Hundreds of people are out of work Tuesday night after a major announcement at the Levi Strauss company. The company's Little Rock distribution plant will be closing its doors as early as August. The move will put 340 people out of work. The plant is located just south of Little Rock off Interstate 530 along the Pratt Road Exit.
Levi Strauss closed down the plant because company officials said it already has three major distribution plants in North America and this one was no longer necessary. Little rock native, Mary Bleck, has worked at the plant for nearly 30 years, and she found out Monday during a managers meeting she would no longer have a job. She says her initial reaction was shock.
(Mary Bleck, worker) Because I thought we were prospering with all the work we had been doing and really was just initially shocked..."
Tuesday morning at 8:00, the rest of the workers got the news of the closing.
(E.J. Bernacki, Levi Strauss) "They've done great work. This is not a reflection on them at all. It's really just a matter of business conditions and our network being over capacity."
Bernacki said the workers will receive a competitive severance package, but that still doesn't take away the sting of losing a job you've had most your life.
(Bleck) "It's sad they are leaving. Thirty years is a long time to work for a company. Now here you're thinking about having to start all over again..."
Mary Bleck is only one of many who will have to start over.
It will be bedlam.....
Dane, I have long since abandoned hope that you are capable of any reading comprehension whatsoever.
I stated nowhere that I was upset. In point of fact, my text indicates quite the opposite -- that I am quite calm and happy, and that I was gently jabbing Willie Green for his usual histrionics.
You do know that you are quite insane, don't you?
PS: Denver, your take was far more correct.
The obvious choices are:
a. Levi's moves its manufatcuring base from inexpensive 3rd world sweatshop in Sri Lanka (or wherever) to dirt cheap sweatshop in Burma (ditto), and/or
b.Levis' cuts relatively expensive American jobs in redundant distribution center.
I suspect both options are in play here. You?
You don't have to buy imported jeans!
Pointer Brand Jeans
Made in USA(Tennessee)
Less than $30
http://www.pointerbrand.com
And you can find many more brands and other products MADE IN USA
here>http://www.usstuff.com/jeans.htm
Yup. When you do a deal with the devil, there's little room for negotiation.
No big deal. We've got millions of jobs coming north to replace these. Oh, wait a minute. Those are job takers coming north!
What's interesting is that Levi Srauss said years ago that they were phasing the plant out. To tell the truth, because I knew someone who lost their job there due to the first round of lay-offs, I assumed that the plant had already shut down. So the only surprise I had was that the plant was just now shutting down completely. That is the primary reason I stopped buying Levi products....
But I again state - this is not new news, despite what the current employees might say....this has been in the works for several years. I do feel sympathy for those who are now looking for new jobs.
Back to job losses again, willie?
WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!
(willie green alert)
Jobless rate declines dramatically
Arkansas' jobless rate declined nine-tenths of a percentage point from December to January, according to state workforce officials who gave little explanation for the dramatic drop. Arkansas' January unemployment rate stood at 3.8 percent compared to December's 4.7 percent. One year ago, unemployment in Arkansas was 5.1 percent. The U.S. jobless rate fell two-tenths to 5.2 percent.
FedEx Freight to expand Harrison plant
FedEx Freight says that expansion plans for a 92,000 square feet addition to its headquarters in Harrison will be submitted to the city's planning board by the end of April. The addition could create as many as 600 new jobs over the next three to five years. FedEx's Harrison location currently employs about 1,300 workers.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
About 100 news jobs will be coming to Magnolia, Arkansas over the next few years. Texas-based TETRA Technologies said today it will expand its brine production facilities around Magnolia.
The project will run $100 million and will employ more 100 people.
The company also said it will expand its bromide facility at West Memphis. The first phase of the construction project is expected to be operational by late 2007. The second phase is scheduled to be completed in 2009.
At 3.8 percent, Arkansas' unemployment rate in January fell to its lowest level since the state began compiling labor force statistics three decades ago, dropping nearly a full point from December's 4.7 percent jobless rate.
By 2010, there will be 53,000 new jobs in central Arkansas paying from $30,000 to $60,000 a year—none of them white collar. At $18 to $20 an hour, the jobs are a far cry from leaning out a drive-through asking, “Do you want fries with that?”
Manufacturing, with its use of robotics and computers, has become high tech, a field that appeals to many young persons. Jobs involving precision measurements and computer assisted drawing have evolved, and positions in the chemical industry use advanced technology.
“If you haven’t been inside a manufacturing plant or factory in awhile, you’d be surprised how things have changed,” Chandler said.
Report: Northwest Arkansas In Top 10 For Jobs
The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metropolitan area was named Wednesday to Milken Institute's 2005 Best Performing Cities Index, a measurement of where the most jobs are being created across the United States.
The growing Northwest Arkansas urban area was listed as the eighth best performing region among the nation's 200 largest metropolitan areas.
Texas company plans to invest $100 million in Arkansas brine plant
Tetra Technologies Inc., based in Woodlands, Texas
the $100 million investment would not only bring more than 100 new jobs to Arkansas, but also would support his company's worldwide oilwell completion
Some folks will lose their pants.
I guess the homosexual jeans brand advertising was not such a hot idea afterall.
Ouch !
Was this a union shop?
Was the cost of medical, liability insurance, employee lawsuits and wages too high to make a profit there.
Wrangler.
Dear Brandon:Until they started this policy I never wore anything but Levis. Since they started this policy, I've never worn a pair of Levis. Wrangler rules. On the rodeo circuit, I've heard Levis called queer britches. Let those who agree with their policies buy their products.On behalf of Levi Strauss & Co. management we thank you for contacting us in support of the charitable contribution policy of Levi Strauss & Co. and the Levi Strauss Foundation. Customer feedback is very important to us and we appreciate your taking the time to express your opinions about this issue.
LS&CO. has an established commitment to nondiscrimination policies and practices based on the Company's core values and respect for individual freedoms. In accordance with this philosophy, our Foundation provides support to organizations which do not discriminate on the basis of age, political affiliation, race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.
The Boy Scouts of America has confirmed that their membership criteria is in conflict with our grant making policies of nondiscrimination on the basis of religious belief and sexual orientation. Accordingly, LS&CO. and the Foundation can no longer fund the Boy Scouts of America.
We recognize the valuable contributions Boy Scout programs have made to millions of young men. It is not our intention or goal to be punitive or to force the Boy Scouts -- or any other organization -- to change its policies to comply with our funding guidelines. LS&CO. employees are welcome to volunteer their personal time and resources to any organization they choose, including the Boy Scouts of America.
We value your comments and feedback and will be passing them on to senior management for their review and information.
Sincerely,
Vicky
Levi Strauss & Co.
vicwhe1854584
BTTT
I can't remember when it was, but I think it was about 1997 or so and Levi's made some anti-gun push. That's when I switched to Wranglers, and well, anything but Levi's. Besides, that's about when they started their fad marketing of button fly's as if the technology of a zipper is a bad thing!
Lee jeans are made in Costa Rica and it looks like Wrangler jeans are still made in USA. Of course it is probably American Samoa but I guess I'll switch to Wrangler.
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