Posted on 06/18/2003 7:41:54 PM PDT by Willie Green
For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - State officials assured anxious Kannapolis-area leaders that if the beleaguered Pillowtex Corp. closes its plants, the state will send teams to quickly give workers access to services and money.
The teams would set up one-stop centers where workers could sign up for services such as job-training classes at community colleges, state Department of Commerce officials told the leaders Tuesday during a meeting in Raleigh.
Employment Security Commission and social services staffers would help workers apply for state aid, subsidized health insurance and 26 extra weeks of unemployment benefits available through a new federal program.
"The whole idea is to get into the plants early," said Roger Shackleford, director of work force development at the N.C. Department of Commerce.
The contingency plan for potentially one of the largest job losses in state history didn't seem to ease much worry.
Local officials pointedly asked what the state is doing to help find a buyer for the financially troubled company and questioned state leaders' promises of job retraining programs in the midst of a sour economy.
Kannapolis-based Pillowtex, formerly known as Cannon Mills, employs 4,450 workers in Cabarrus and Rowan counties. Company officials put the business up for sale in March to avoid going back into bankruptcy protection and have considered several offers.
Textile plants in North Carolina have been closing for years as manufacturers shift production to other countries for cheaper labor.
"Unfortunately, we've had far too much experience in responding to situations like this," Shackleford told the group.
Clothing, linen and other textile-making plants account for 5 percent of the employment in North Carolina but 75 percent of the job losses over the past two years, according to state Commerce Department officials.
Elected and appointed leaders from Cabarrus, Rowan and surrounding counties drove to Raleigh to hear Commerce Department officials spell out post-Pillowtex plans. Even officials from some state agencies, though, seemed uncertain of how well they could cope with layoffs.
"Our facilities are full and will be in the fall," said Jeanie Moore, vice president of continuing education programs at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. "Where are we going to do the training?"
Commerce Secretary Jim Fain and others were guarded in their comments because of constantly changing negotiations. State officials, however, have met with potential buyers and outlined a variety of possible incentive plans, according to Gov. Mike Easley's office.
Well, it couldn't hurt, I guess.
It would also help for the reporter to have used an edited title.
The title is a bit asinine the way it's worded.
Don't see how 4,450 layoffs will help the state.
No, they are not ignoring the situation.
The Zoellick/Bush administration is actively engaged in economic warfare against the American Middle Class.
Their allegience is to the financial interests of transnational corporations, NOT the General Welfare of We the People.
Zoellick Goes to Mideast on Mission to Promote Trade
For the Zoellick/Bush Administration, the American Middle Class is just another market to plunder. So long as corporate coffers are full, it matters very little to them if American consumers (and taxpayers) are plunged deeper into debt and booted out of their jobs.
The smart ones around here are moving out of the state. There are simply no jobs to be had in WNC any more.
During school, see it every day. If a reporter (one not busy chasing Bush-bashing stories) would go and do a survey of school administrators, (s)he would find that the vast majority of students do NOT care. This is a nationwide problem. They do not care what the rules are. They do not care that someone wants them to aspire to excellence. They simply do NOT care. A small majority do care and try to do their work well, but the overall masses do not care.
I think the larger problem is that the PARENTS don't care.
My parents did care and as a result, I got a good education because I wanted to make them [and myself] proud.
I graduated from HS 15 years ago, and even then there were many of my classmates who were only biding their time until their senior year.
I doubt the situation has improved.
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