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La-Z-Boy plant: 630 Utah workers to lose jobs in summer
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Crushing to Tremonton Folks | 1:48 p.m. April 3, 2008
This is a tragedy in our community. I live in Tremonton. My neighbor works for
La-Z-Boy. Consider this: in a town of about 8,000 people, 630 just lost their
jobs. We're hurting up here. Please try to remember that there is a family
counting on support from all of those losing their jobs.
Let's get real | 2:13 p.m. April 3, 2008
Enough of the talk about competing in a global market. What is happening here is
that greedy corporations are moving jobs to nations that have no labor laws, no
benefits, no worker protection, no health insurance, no child labor laws. And
all to pad their coffers, to increase profits, to give their ceo's unheard
of salaries and bonuses. This isn't about competing in a global economy.
It's about allowing powerful rich corporations to do whatever they please
to make more money. If the US wants to become another India or Mexico, it's
well on it's way. Our politicians are allowing other nations to prosper at
the expense of the American people, and the American people have bought into the
plan.
michaelh | 2:30 p.m. April 3, 2008
With the rise of the Obama hope for the future all jobs will be outsourced
except for the people who gather up the bodies of those who have starved to
death.
Comments continue below
To "Business not Charity" guy | 2:34 p.m. April 3, 2008
The business not charity comment is non sensical. We all know we are discussing
the actions of a business. Most of our comments have been directed at what is
appropriate "policy" to take towards business interests located within
our states and country. My belief (I have posted twice, "To MBA man",
etc.) have expressed a straightforward action plan that would pass the
"real" costs on to companies who contemplate moving operations to
third world locations (seeking compensation on welfare, unemployment, etc.,
costs). The "cost of doing business" inside our country should
include those types of costs. What would this do? Maybe nothing, maybe the
companies would still move operations to third world locations, BUT we as a
society would be able to extract some of the real costs of that action from the
company. This is called "watching out for the interests" of society.
It is within the scope of business activities to recover these costs.
a good read | 2:43 p.m. April 3, 2008
Check out "Downsize THIS!"
Written over a decade ago it explains how the CEO's exploit people, dump them, and get even more rich.
Written over a decade ago it explains how the CEO's exploit people, dump them, and get even more rich.
The invisible hand | 2:44 p.m. April 3, 2008
Go look up Adam Smith and the invisible hand theory. It is true and it is
happening right before our eyes!
Real life | 2:51 p.m. April 3, 2008
Amen to Retort's comment. Nothing else needs to be said.
Glen | 2:54 p.m. April 3, 2008
I'm sick of this. I'm sick of the high tax burden placed on
businesses, I'm sick of businesses not being loyal to the people of this
country. I'm sick of the cry babies that want uncle Sam to pay their way
which results in high tax burdens for individuals and companies.
Re: Business, not charity | 2:56 p.m. April 3, 2008
Businesses can only reduce costs so much. If we want businesses to stay in this
country we have to lower the tax burden.
Tax incentives | 3:04 p.m. April 3, 2008
How much did free tax money did we give to La-Z-Boy when they came here? How
about a refund from the senors.
To: Cal Reader | 2:58 p.m. April 3, 2008
Yes, I can cite several examples of how NAFTA has saved American jobs. As an
international trade attorney, I see this every single day.
Here is a recent example for you: NAFTA has allowed one of my clients to continue manufacturing its labor-intensive products in the United States instead of relocating its manufacturing operations to low cost centers in Asia. Subject to demand constraints and fierce global competition, my client faces extraordinarily slim profit margins. My client sells most of its products to Canada. Payment of duty into Canada negates all my client's profits. Through changing suppliers of certain key components, my client now qualifies for NAFTA, sells products to Canada duty-free, and earns a positive profit. My client's manufacturing operatings remain in the United States, and over 4,000 people in the Midwest and South have been able to save their jobs from being outsourced to Asia.
Here is a recent example for you: NAFTA has allowed one of my clients to continue manufacturing its labor-intensive products in the United States instead of relocating its manufacturing operations to low cost centers in Asia. Subject to demand constraints and fierce global competition, my client faces extraordinarily slim profit margins. My client sells most of its products to Canada. Payment of duty into Canada negates all my client's profits. Through changing suppliers of certain key components, my client now qualifies for NAFTA, sells products to Canada duty-free, and earns a positive profit. My client's manufacturing operatings remain in the United States, and over 4,000 people in the Midwest and South have been able to save their jobs from being outsourced to Asia.
It's just capitalism | 3:00 p.m. April 3, 2008
So what's the problem?
This country is based on capitalism.
This is what happens when the capital becomes out of whack with CEO's getting richer from the downfall or downsizing of the little people.
Certainly you people must understand the Beehive symbol?
Beekeepers + the lowly bees = capitalism
What do you want? Socialism?
This country is based on capitalism.
This is what happens when the capital becomes out of whack with CEO's getting richer from the downfall or downsizing of the little people.
Certainly you people must understand the Beehive symbol?
Beekeepers + the lowly bees = capitalism
What do you want? Socialism?
School drop outs beware.. | 3:11 p.m. April 3, 2008
what are you going to do for a living in this new economy????? The drop out
rates are near the 50% mark in many of our large cities. Are we nuts??? Where
will you be in 10 years from now...JAIL??? Get your heads on straight...get
educated while it is compatratively free. Become employable in a high tech
industry. Ditch digging is out unless you are willing to work for nothing, like
illegals do.
John Locke | 3:16 p.m. April 3, 2008
This is capatalism at its best. There are stock holders they have to think of. I
think I will still buy a lay-z-boy next time I can.
Anonymous | 3:25 p.m. April 3, 2008
It's disgusting how people throw other people away.
But I guess it's okay if those doing the throwing are Kings, Rulers, Presidents, Magistrates ... and CEO's.
What will the rich people do if they have to cut coupons?
But I guess it's okay if those doing the throwing are Kings, Rulers, Presidents, Magistrates ... and CEO's.
What will the rich people do if they have to cut coupons?
SLC-0606 | 4:19 p.m. April 3, 2008
I bought a Lay-Z-Boy five years ago. It was missing several bolts (the holes
had not even been drilled) and fell apart within two years. I wouldn't buy
a Lay-Z-Boy under any terms. There quality is not as good as it was many years
ago.
Erik | 4:24 p.m. April 3, 2008
I think Laz-e-boy needs to rethink their brand image before they start cutting
jobs. They make pretty good furniture, but their brand only appeals to the
elderly. If they want to make more money they should redesign their furniture
and promote their new style.
Pity the CEO's of La-Z-Boy | 4:55 p.m. April 3, 2008
Poor, poor CEO's of La-Z-Boy.
Just look at what they had to do.
Axed 630 lowly workers.
What would YOU do if you were them?
Scale down your lifestyle?
Put off buying that Swiss chalet?
Be satisfied with the number of $1,000 suits you have?
Poor, poor La-Z-Boy CEO's.
Just look at what they had to do.
Axed 630 lowly workers.
What would YOU do if you were them?
Scale down your lifestyle?
Put off buying that Swiss chalet?
Be satisfied with the number of $1,000 suits you have?
Poor, poor La-Z-Boy CEO's.
jr | 6:48 p.m. April 3, 2008
for those that so pick and move on and find another job. You must be joking,
try selling your home and relocating then finding another job. mmmmm These
people have families, have homes and responsibilities and of course corporate
America can be justified the whole time. Our governor gives them tax breaks at
the expense of the tax payer, seems like the plain old yank is being double tax
and put out of work and in time maybe homeless. Thanks for those that have
been able to get their greater education and don't deal in the middle to
low range of working American. May you fall one day and walk in the shoes of an
average joe.
come to idaho | 8:46 p.m. April 3, 2008
If you need to relocate come to Burley Idaho, we have new businesses opening up.
Check out DOT foods. Good schools, cute town, and very low unemployment.
Losing retailers | 10:36 p.m. April 3, 2008
DO you think that part of the reason for moving the plant is because RC WIlley,
which is a large seller of la-z-boy is dropping them in their out of state
stores and only have a small selection in the Utah market??? It can hurt losing
your 4th biggest account!!
MoJues | 11:51 p.m. April 3, 2008
I will never buy from LayZBoy again, the product we got was terrible and they
were not at all willing to work with us. It was nothing like what we sampled in
the store. They were a waste of a lot of money, we bought two recliners twice
in three years time.
Judy | 7:40 p.m. April 4, 2008
I've worked at La-Z-Boy 22 years and my husband has worked there 26 years.
Thank you for all the support on the comments people have written. We are still
in shock from the announcement. There are not enough jobs in Box Elder county
to accomadate 630 people, so many will have to relocate. The housing market was
already in a "slump". Who can afford to buy a home here now?
I'm scared...
turner | 6:34 p.m. April 5, 2008
I know how all you people feel.La-Z-Boy east close down in april of 2002.Most of
us made good money between 30&50 thousand dollars.We heard rumors for 2
years,that they were going to close the plant down.Of course they always told us
it was not true.One day we were told they were going to celebrate 36 years.So we
all gather around the table and waited for the party supplies.My co worker say
we were going to have a band.Well the band came and told us the same reasons
they told you.The boot out band gave us unemployment supplies.My co worker had a
toothpick in his mouth when we were told they were going to shut us down, every
thing got silence.His toothpick fell out of his mouth and sounded like a pine
tree falling down.They said,we had 65,000 chairs order and we had 6 months to do
it in.The company gave us 4 weeks of servance pay ,2 weeks more if we work to
the end. Stock was as high as 58.00 a share. Now it's pocket change.Some of
you will find better jobs and some won't.So good luck you will need it.
Anonymous | 7:05 a.m. April 7, 2008
This is what happens in a capitalistic society.
And get ready for more and more of the same thing.
If you don't like it - you must be an anti-capitalist.
And get ready for more and more of the same thing.
If you don't like it - you must be an anti-capitalist.
Popeye | 3:28 p.m. April 11, 2008
Good luck buying ANY "American" made furniture. Most of it is junk
coming from our special friends, the COMMUNIST Chinese. (At least the Village
Idiot in the White House says they are our "Friends!") They may be
HIS, but they ain't mine. This country is slowly being sold down the river
by our politicians who negotiate the so called "Free" Trade
Agreements. And yet we keep reelecting the bums time after time.
Maylee | 3:15 p.m. April 16, 2008
I am one of those La Z Boy employees that was affected on April 2, 2008 of
soon-to-be becoming unemployed. I remember being hired several years after it
first opened and felt like there could never be a better place to work and earn
a living. What a tremendous plant manager we had back then who cared for his
employees and mingled with them, doing all he could to see how he could make a
better work environment for all. After he left the plant several years later
and then in time the very founders to this wonderful company passed on, there
began to be signs of changes to the legendary La Z Boy and eventually to the
wages of the very people who built these products. So many good people left
because of being payed far too little for such a very physical job. I have seen
the people come and go because what they are asked to do in their job is not
worth the little money they get. There's so much more to tell. But the
ones who know the real stories are the very ones that worked there. So very,
very sad for all.
one less customer | 1:09 p.m. April 22, 2008
La-Z-boy is on my growing list of items/brands NOT to purchase. If we
don't buy it, they can not survive.
La-z-boy China | 11:22 p.m. May 9, 2008
La-z-boy has been in China for 6 years already. 70% of it's leather chairs
are cut and sewn in china. The only leather cutting factility in the U.S. is
being closed down and sent to Mexico. This plant has saved La-z-boy millions of
dollars alone but because they can't get anyone here to sew it for a 1.50
an hour its leaving. The people at the Newton Leather plant have been die hard
employees and have bent over backwards for La-z-boy. I guess being a good
employee dosen't mean anything after all. I have been at La-z-boy along
time and it went down after E.M. knabrush died. He would have never allowed his
company to go to Mexico. His love for his employees, his company and his
country was his drive and made him the man he was and the company La-z-boy was.
What a shame.
Anonymous | 11:40 p.m. May 9, 2008
La-z-boy CEO made $630,000 and a bonus of $326,000 Poor Guy how dose he live off
that. Wonder what the rest of La-z-boy top people made? La-z-boy had a 19.8
million dollar profit last year but told the employees they lost a million
dollars. They failed to mention thier goal was 20.8 million. Trying to justify
going to Mexico. What a joke.
p.j | 6:22 p.m. Aug. 22, 2009
well here we go again slitting our throat we buy foring cars ect-ect i try to
buy american made all the time ,quit shopping at walmart spread your money
around , i was going to buy a new love seat from lazyboy but now i will just
hang on to the old one till i find one that is made in the U.S.A probley will be
a long wait, but it;s something that i;am willing to do.
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