Steelcase closing plant in Fletcher

[JPace]

(this is devastating for this small community
of just over 4000 outside of Asheville, N.C.,
this area is bleeding from job losses)
.........................................................

http://cgi.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story/news/48961

Steelcase closing plant in Fletcher
By John Boyle and Angie Newsome, Staff writersJan. 27, 2004 10:49 p.m.
FLETCHER - For this booming community of 4,185, news Tuesday that the Steelcase plant in Fletcher is closing was a blow to more than the 480 workers losing their jobs.

At Service Barber Shop on Hendersonville Road, owner John Bryson was cutting the hair of retired Methodist minister Dwight Whitlock.

"I tell you," he said, scissors snipping, "it's just bad news on top of bad news. . I'd say people will still get their hair cut, but they'll go a little longer between trims."

The closing won't put Bryson out of business, he says, but he feels sorry for the workers who are losing their jobs - workers like Fletcher resident Bill Hart, a machine operator at the wood furniture plant for 17 years.

"Business times are hard for a lot of companies," Hart said. "The way this has been handled has been done in a positive way. I think the company did above and beyond what a lot of companies do for their employees."
MORE..... http://cgi.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story/news/48961

[JeebusH]

1. so when does Bush start running his ads bragging of the 8%+ growth there??

[YNGW]

2. I live 5 miles from the plant.

I know many, many people who work there. They've been slowly downsizing since around 1996-97, so it wasn't totally unexpected, and the company has been active finding other work for the employees. Already there's rumors of several manufacturers interested in re-opening the plant for other purposes. It's in a prime location.

[young_at_heart]

3. I live in Asheville........this state has lost so many jobs lately

Every week some plant near here is closing or downsizing. I hope this sad state of affairs will make some people here pay better attention to the Bush agenda. I saw a bumper sticker the other day on a dilapidated car that said "I stand with my president---GWB". I wondered if he really knows what Bush stands for?

[JPace]

4. I live in Asheville also, I don't think a lot of GWB supporters

are politically savvy here. They support bush
because of pro-life or gun ownership beliefs.
Still Asheville is surprisingly liberal for
a state that is mostly repug. I think that as
we continue to lose jobs and social support
systems bush supporters will slowly abandon
him. Pain always makes one pay closer attention
to the details. It is a sad way to learn though.