St. Cloud factory's (229) layoffs tied to shifting work to China, demand

[UpInArms]

http://miva.sctimes.com/miva/cgi-bin/miva?CMN/Local/read.mv+20041203043706+1+

Electrolux Home Products of St. Cloud is eliminating more than 13 percent of its production jobs as it shifts some freezer manufacturing to China and adjusts to overall demand.

By Dec. 17, the factory will lay off 229 workers, primarily from one third-shift production line. Contract language allows them to be rehired as other jobs become available.

<snip>

Neuman blamed the layoffs on international trade agreements and urged consumers to flood the White House and Capitol Hill with letters of protest.

Health-care costs also need attention if U.S. manufacturers are to stay competitive, he said. Electrolux pays 80 percent of the $11,520 annual premium for each family coverage policy, he said.

<snip>

Neuman said he was "very concerned" that the freezer plant could go the route of an Electrolux refrigerator plant in Michigan, which is closing as jobs move to Mexico.

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[Qanisqineq]

1. Merry Christmas

You can't buy your kids any presents now or decorate that tree or afford to pay for the electricity used by Christmas lights on your house.

Ho Ho Ho.

Welcome to the club of the unemployed.

[NYC]

2. Electrolux makes vacuums.

Hoover made vacuums. The Ohio Hoover moved to China. A neighbor bought a Hoover vacuum less than a year ago. She has had it repaired twice, and will now give up on it.

Hoover and Eureka used to be guaranteed reliable. I wonder if Eureka has also moved to China.

Outsourcing is a serious problem. I try not to buy Chinese products. It's nice that the Chinese people have jobs, but it horrifies me that U.S. residents do not have jobs.