Plant Closing

I learned Tuesday that my employer, Levi Strauss & Company is closing the plant where I have worked for the last 11 years. Although I wasn't too angry with Levi's over the decision, I am still angry over the cause. If there had not been so much competative pressure in the garment industry I would likely continue to be employed by this most progressive company for years to come. Levi's has layed off over 20,ooo people during the course of my employment there.

Levi's could not compete with the other garment makers making most of their clothes in the USA while other companies were manufacturing in China and other low paying places. Thus they had to make the shift in order to remain competative and survive.

I am not opposed to giving people in less developed countries decent jobs. I am however disturbed that most of these people do not have decent jobs. Levi Strauss & Co. has been diligent in making sure that their contractors maintain safe and comfortable working environments. I know that people manufacturing our product in other countries probably are much better off than they would be making Lee or Wrangler. I wish that we could make a fair way for people here to keep decent employment while also empowering people in less developed parts of the world.

I recognize that the world is changing and becoming a global community.
My biggest issue is that the rich industrialists are getting LOTS richer and the middle class is struggling to stay alive while the poor are being abused.

I will be speaking more about how I personally feel about the plant closure and other such things over the next few months. Yes, they did give us lots of warning.