Unemployed Textile Workers to Head Back to Work Thanks to Business/Labor/Government Cooperation

Workers United led effort to save jobs in New Bedford, Mass.

NEW YORK, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Monday, August 17th, fifteen unemployed textile workers in New Bedford, Massachusetts will head back to work. The workers, all former Eagle Industries employees, will be making ammunition bags for New Bedford Tactical Gear, a new manufacturing operation located at 430 Belleville Avenue. Their new jobs are the result of a cooperative effort between business, labor and government officials.
New Bedford Tactical Gear is a wholly owned subsidiary of New Jersey Headwear Corp of Newark, NJ, which contract manufactures as Unionwear. Polymer Technologies, a New Jersey-based manufacturer of precision plastic and metal components, awarded New Bedford Tactical Gear a contract to manufacture reusable ammunition bags for the U.S. Army's M249 rifle in New Bedford. Polymer was attracted to the New Bedford workforce because of the availability of workers experienced in making high quality tactical gear.

The labor union Workers United contacted Unionwear after it became evident that ATK would not sell its Eagle Industries operation in New Bedford, and the Army would not renew the MOLLE backpack contract.

"This a prime example of how our union is not only about fighting for wages and benefits, but also about fighting to create and save jobs," said Workers United President Bruce Raynor. "We contacted and worked closely with Unionwear for a number of reasons. First, Unionwear had successfully resurrected a union bag manufacturer in New Jersey in 2007 and 2008 that resulted in 60 laid-off employees resuming their careers as union textile workers. Second, during last year's National Governors Association conference, an Eagle employee, Elisa Rios, testified at a SweatFree Communities meeting about Eagle workplace abuses alongside Unionwear employees who were testifying about model workplace conditions. All of the workers testifying there were trying to move government contracts from contractors who violate labor laws to contractors who willingly exceed the intent of those laws. Finally, and not insignificantly, Unionwear owner Mitch Cahn owns a home in Massachusetts about an hour from New Bedford."

"This contract is the first step toward helping to put New Bedford's textile workers back to work," said Mitch Cahn, President of Unionwear. "We convinced Polymer that the skill set of the New Bedford workers was exceptional and we received a commitment from Polymer contingent on setting up a New Bedford operation quickly. With help from Workers United, New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang, New Bedford City Councilor David Alves, and New Bedford Economic Development Council Executive Director Matt Morrissey, we were able to lease space, acquire machinery, and staff up New Bedford Tactical Gear in a matter of weeks. We are committed to staying and growing in New Bedford if the military contracts that Senator Kerry, Senator Kennedy, and Representative Frank say are within reach come through. We look forward to working closely with them."

Cahn added: "Labor Secretary Susan Bump, acting on behalf of Governor Patrick, the Massachusetts State Economic Development team, the New Bedford Workforce Investment Board and Economic Development Board cooperated on developing a low-cost, high-return group training program for the laid-off workers that would enable them to operate this new facility in a lean manufacturing, self-directed work team environment. That environment is necessary for a union shop in a high labor cost state to be competitive and sustainable. We sought little in the way of cash grants or tax abatements. The skilled labor force New Bedford has to offer was more than enough for Unionwear to take this leap of faith."

Background:

Unionwear is the trade name of New Jersey Headwear Corp. Founded in 1992, Unionwear manufactures and embroiders headwear, bags, accessories, workwear and safety gear. It currently operates a 45,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Newark, New Jersey where it employs 115 people with union wages, as well as full health benefits and pension contributions. Unionwear's employees are represented by Workers United, Local 155. www.unionwear.com

Polymer Technologies Inc. (PTI) is a Clifton, New Jersey-based contract manufacturer of precision plastic and metal components. PTI offers a variety of engineering services such as material selection, part and mold design, Mold Flow(TM) analysis and low and high volume production. www.polymertechnologies.com

Workers United, SEIU is a union of 150,000 workers in the U.S. and Canada who work in the textile, apparel, laundry, food service, hospitality, gaming, manufacturing and distribution industries. www.workers-united.org

SOURCE Workers United, SEIU