Levi's is doing the same thing in Canada...Probly moving there shops to China or Mexico...
Levi Strauss closing three Canadian plants
United States (Sep. 25, 2003 - 10:56)
From Webfin.com
http://www.webfin.com/en/news/news.html/?id=39153 RICHMOND HILL, Ont. (CP) -- Jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co. is closing its three remaining manufacturing plants in Canada next year in a restructuring that will cut 1,180 jobs.
The U.S. clothing giant said Thursday the move continues the company's drive begun in the late 1990s to shift all its manufacturing to outside suppliers and away from owned and operated plants.
The three Canadian plants affected are sewing operations in Edmonton and Stoney Creek, Ont., near Hamilton, and a finishing centre in the southwestern Ontario community of Brantford. A plant in Texas is also being closed.
The closures are expected to occur by next March.
"Our employees have done a tremendous job and these closures are in no way a reflection on their good work," said Julie Klee, general manager of Levi Strauss & Co. (Canada) Inc. "As painful as they are, however, the closures are an absolutely necessary part of ensuring the long-term competitiveness of our business.
"Moving away from owned-and-operated manufacturing to a broader sourcing base will strengthen our business by giving us much more flexibility. It will allow us to use the right sources - with the capabilities and cost-competitiveness that we need - to get a wider range of products to market faster.
Klee said the closures will allow the company to focus on product design, marketing and sales of its jeans.
The company said it intends to offer a comprehensive separation package to affected employees and will meet with unions in coming weeks to discuss the move. As well, the Levi Strauss Foundation has set up a $700,000 US transition fund to help the three affected communities.
Levi Strauss Canada, headquartered just north of Toronto, is the wholly owned subsidiary of Levi Strauss & Co., one of the world's leading branded apparel marketers. In Canada, the company markets and sells jeans, casual wear and accessories under the Levi's, Dockers, GWG and Levi Strauss Signature brands.
Levi's is doing the same thing in Canada Boo hoo...[wet tears streaming my face]...let's see now...Levi Strauss:
...annual grant-griver of groups like Planned Parenthood & the N.O.W. Legal Defense & Education Fund, the Children's Defense Fund (formerly chaired by Hillary), the Women's Legal Defense Fund, the liberal League of Women's Voters...
L.S.: named in THE 100 BEST COMPANIES FOR GAY MEN & LESBIANS (Ed Mickens, 1993) {domestic partnership benefits + managers partly appraised on the basis of workplace diversity support--nothing new now--but L.S. was a trend-setter at this in the late 80s & early 90s}...
L.S.: avid sponsor of the Gay Games + 12-page ad inserts in gay pubs like Out mag...
L.S.: cut off financial support of the Boy Scouts in '91--claiming it "will not provide support to organizations which, in their constitution or practice, discriminate against a person or group on the basis of sexual orientation...age*..." Hmm...age...ya gotta read the asterisk..."age"* EXCEPT FOR gestational age...Levi Strauss doesn't mind discriminating unto death vs. future employee pool (otherwise known as pre-born babes or "the next generation")