Longaberger layoffs could impact election

[UpInArms]

http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/news/stories/20040711/localnews/824052.html

COLUMBUS -- Longaberger's top executives are major financial backers of Republican candidates, but their decision to lay off hundreds of workers could impact President Bush's chances to win Ohio.

Unlike some companies with recent layoff announcements in the Democrat-leaning Cleveland and Canton areas, Longaberger draws workers primarily from Republican- dominated Licking, Muskingum and Coshocton counties. The company announced this week it could lay off up to 970 employees in September.

<snip>

"Whether it's due to the bad economy or the product line -- whatever it's due to, it becomes another piece of information for citizens that all is not well for the economy," he said, noting the news adds to recent reports of manufacturing job losses in Canton and Avon Lake.

"When you start getting multiple situations like that, you start thinking the economy is not as good as the people in Washington are claiming."

...lots more...

[molly]

1. Great news!

pugs cannot win without Ohio.

[cosmicone]

2. It is sad ...

that thanks to the chimp's disinformation on the economy, we are reduced to calling people getting laid off as "great news"

[sendero]

7. I prefer....

... to think of it as bad news with a silver lining ;)

[theHandpuppet]

9. BLEAK news

There is nothing good about families losing jobs, savings and homes. My heart goes out to them and the difficulties they will now be facing.

Just another reason Bush needs to be sent home to Texas!!

[Boomer]

14. Texas?

You mean Connecticut, don't you?

Oh, right, Texas, his home away from home.

[Sporadicus]

3. I Don't Like Hearing of Anyone Losing Their Job

even repugs. But I'll take whatever political mileage that can be gained from this development. According to media talking heads, the economy is stronger than at any time during the past twenty years. News like this affirms the media's hypocrisy and attempts to manipulate the election in *'s favor. Once this election is over, I recommend a campaign to demand better from the media whores, using every means at our disposal...boycotts if necessary.

[gmoney]

4. Wow, boutique item makers downsizing?

These silly, wildly overpriced baskets have to be some sort of economic indicator.

I wonder if they're outsourcing?

[phaseolus]

11. I think you're right ... and in addition --

there's a faddish aspect to the whole Longaberger thing. Except for the real fanatics, how many $100+ woven baskets does any household need, anyway?

It seems to be one of those things that was destined to plateau & decline...

[GinaMaria]

5. pet peeve!

Democrat-leaning Cleveland

It's DEMOCRATIC leaning Cleveland. This is the biggest clue that the press are in bed with the repukes. I'm so tired of seeing this. Anyone have any ideas for a campaign to end this misuse of the word or this avoidance to use the adjective Democratic correctly?

[huckleberry]

20. that's one of my pet peeves too!

and I agree, it's a great indicator of where the writer/speaker is coming from!

[theHandpuppet]

6. Bombs, not baskets

Funny how companies such as Longaberger, which provide goods for folks here at home, are really feeling the pinch and have to lay off workers, whilst RW Cincinnati-based GE is finding out just how much "war is good for business".

See this article published in the Cincy Enquirer just a couple of days ago: http://www.enquirer.com/midday/07/07102004_News_mday_earns.html

<snipping>

"This is the best economy we've seen in years,'' CEO Jeff Immelt said. "As such we are further narrowing our full-year guidance to $1.55-$1.60 a share.'' The Finneytown native said GE expects 10-15 percent earnings growth next year.

GE Transportation, which includes Aircraft Engines and Erie, Pa.-based GE Locomotives, reported second quarter operating earnings of $810 million, up 18 percent from $686 million a year ago. Transportation revenues rose 15 percent to $3.9 billion from $3.4 billion a year ago.

GE Transportation's profit growth was helped by orders for engine parts. Military-engine shipments rose 27 percent, while locomotive shipments rose 81 percent.

Is it any coincidence that GE, the nations' fifth-largest corp, which prior to the Iraq invasion had been laying off workers right and left and showing dismal profit losses, suddenly found the Iraq war to be such good news for their bottom line? And in such a heavily Repuke area, too. Fancy that.

[Cats Against Frist]

10. Longaberger isn't a bad company

I think it's near obscene that people would pay so much for baskets -- BUT some of that cost is due to the fact that, when the company was doing better (as in up until 2000), they treat their employees pretty sweet. At that time, though the company is non-union, many basketweavers were making $30 an hour. Longaberger also offered full-time, full benefit jobs, AND offered domestic partnership benefits for homosexuals.

This is the one that got me: since basketweaving the same style of basket, over and over, must be one of the most boring tasks, the founder lets the people watch TV. I'm no fan of TV -- but that's pretty cool.

The salaries have been reduced a lot, now, because the company isn't selling as much product -- and, there are the layoffs.

Instead of squealing about how "someone could pay so much for a basket," ($30 for a little cereal bowl-sized basket), maybe we should talk about how paying a little more for quality, made-in-America goods is a GOOD thing.

I mean -- people pay a lot more for something just as useless to a company that outsources (and I haven't heard they are, yet, but I'm sure they're thinking about it) -- anything that goes to Abercrombie, GAP- shit, almost any clothing store where you pay exorbitantly more for a brand name -- so, why not encourage the practice of paying a little more to corporations that pay their workers well?

I used to think Longaberger sucked, until I did some research. I pretty much think any corporations who call mass-produced items "collectables," should be resigned to one of the inner circles of hell -- but at least their collectables are putting food on the table, and paying for the healthcare of AMERICAN workers.

[theHandpuppet]

16. I'm not disagreeing with you

I was just pointing out that the companies with the most to gain in Bush's Amerika are those with fat DoD contracts, whilst companies producing domestic goods, such as Longaberger, suffer massive layoffs.

Longaberger (a company founded by a woman, BTW) was a major American success story until Bush's economy wrecked the market for domestically-made products. Longaberger baskets cost more because they are a superior product, WELL MADE by American workers. Not everyone can afford Longaberger baskets, but they will last you a lifetime. So you can either buy twenty cheaply made baskets from overseas -- which will fall apart after one use -- or one Longaberger which will only increase in value as the years go by.

This is the shame of it all -- here is another American success story gone down the tubes in Bush's Amerika. But then, Bush's base will simply continue to do what they have always done... buy the cheap stuff from WalMart, supporting slave labor markets everywhere.

[Cats Against Frist]

19. Oh, I wasn't harshing on you

I just wanted to put the Longaberger info somewhere in the thread -- I was actually agreeing with you. However, the company is run by a woman -- who oversaw the company's biggest period of growth, but it was founded by David Longaberger. He's died, now.

I think they're a little exorbitantly priced -- like I said a cool thirty bucks for a plain basket the size of a cereal bowl -- but for people who are actually going to go out and spend money on crap -- this is at least good crap -- a fairly responsible consumer choice.

[Cerridwen]

13. Nothing new for GE

GE and the Nazis

http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/uen_nastybiz.html

GE Funds Hitler

http://www.reformation.org/wall-st-ch3.html

...and Apartheid

http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/magazine/issue11/cw11f4.html

[Blue_Roses]

8. they can't be that naive

"When you start getting multiple situations like that, you start thinking the economy is not as good as the people in Washington are claiming."


Well, ya think :eyes:

[Philostopher]

15. It's the only way some of my neighbors will say anything

negative against Dim Son -- if something makes a direct, negative impact on their lives. Even when it does, they'll often find a way to blame it on something else without ever directly approaching the thought that their problems are, at least in part, due to policies mostly espoused, legislated and followed by the Republicans they put in office.

It's pretty sad, when you think about it, that it only would matter to a significant enough portion of Ohio voters if Ohioans lose their jobs; that they can't see the economy's not as good as they're being told until they're in line for unemployment themselves. It's also fairly common. And in cities like Cinci and Dayton, where the military industrial complex lumbering back into action, as it has recently, stabilizes or improves an otherwise flaccid economic and employment situation, you won't hear criticism at all from the majority of people. If they're still working, and they can still ignore reality, they're perfectly happy to.

I suppose it's not limited to Ohio -- there are plenty of people out there who don't care about these things until they're getting a flag-draped coffin sent over from the Middle East, or standing in an unemployment line wondering if they'll ever work again. They're called Republicans.

[lanlady]

12. Longaberger is gravitating to China

If I'm not mistaken, the company recently introduced a new line of kitchen ceramics made in China: a first for Longaberger. It may only be a matter of mine before they start making the baskets there, too.

[UpInArms]

18. Longaberger is on Lou Dobbs' outsourcing list

http://www.isyourjobgoingoffshore.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1356

Lou's List of Companies that Outsource from CNN

[Obamarama]

17. I always cringe when I hear about more Americans losing jobs, BUT....

How long did this company really expect they could make it with the prices they charge for their precious little baskets?

[tooncesj0nes]

21. 12,000 longaberger baskets for sale on EBAY!.

...dont fool yourself. People who buy Longaberger are of the same mentality of NASCAR diecast collectors..these are 'limited edition' collectables..people buy them because they view them as 'investments'...and they are the 'in' thing.....go to ebay and see what theyve been offering..I think longaberger just got greedy and oversupplied their market..or did their customers get wise and turn on ebay to find out that many of these overpriced baskets can be bought much cheaper than theyve been told by 'collector guides'???

[saracat]

22. I am so sorry. I have been there. In fact I am there.

Regardless of the company itself ,this falls squarely on the head of Bushco for creating this corporate climate.