Company that makes HD clothes is closing
because of the economy. Is HD not ordering as many clothes, or other companies?
4 Clothing Plants to Close in Ark.
By CARYN ROUSSEAU
.c The Associated Press
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A clothing manufacturer is laying off than 850 workers in four Arkansas cities, including 500 in Mena - putting 10 percent of the city's population out of work.
By mid-December, Aalfs Manufacturing will close factories in Arkadelphia, Glenwood and Malvern, plus the Mena facility.
``It is with sadness and disappointment that we have had to make this decision. We have tried to hold out as long as possible in these locations, hoping we would be able to make it through these tough times without having to take these measures,'' Aalfs chairman John W. Aalfs said.
Long-term employees will receive severance packages, said Brad Fritts, manufacturing president. Managers went to the four locations Tuesday and told the employees about the closings.
Aalfs said it will go forward with plans to open a small product development facility in Mena.
Aalfs, which has operated in Arkansas for 16 years, blamed poor economic conditions for the plant closings.
The layoffs would include about 120 jobs in Arkadelphia, 106 in Malvern and 98 in Glenwood.
Operations at the four plants will be phased out over the next 60 days. The company will continue operating facilities in Dallas, Mexico, Texarkana and its headquarters in Sioux City, Iowa.
Company officials haven't decided whether to sell the facilities.
``Our major focus is to deal with the people at this point,'' Fritts said.
Aalfs makes jeans for JC Penney, Land's End, Harley Davidson, The Gap and Tommy Hilfiger.
Tammy Carpenter says the holidays will be tight for her family since she learned she will lose her job at Aalfs' Glenwood plant.
``I've notified all my family not to expect Christmas from us,'' she said Wednesday. |
