Textile leaders say they want pledges from political candidates

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Some of the most powerful leaders in the textile and apparel industries said Thursday they wanted pledges from all political candidates to protect the nation's manufacturing jobs.

More than two dozen officials from textile and apparel companies and related national associations unveiled their plans at the "Textile Industry 2004 Policy Summit," the (Spartanburg) Herald-Journal reported Thursday.

The officials said declining manufacturing employment, rising imports and an ever-growing federal deficit were hurting not just their industries, but all U.S. businesses that make goods.

"This is not about textiles," said Walter Montgomery, the head of Spartan International until it closed its six plants and laid off 1,200 employees in 2001. "This is just about jobs. It's very, very important."

Roger Milliken, chief executive officer of Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co. and co-chairman of event-organizer American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, said the United States is heading the way of Spain, Holland and England.

All were superpowers before losing their wealth-creating manufacturing jobs. "We're going down that path," he said.

The group's key points are closing all import loopholes, keeping tariffs and duties at their current levels, using only U.S. companies for defense and security contracts and strictly enforcing safeguards against growing imports from China.

"This industry is prepared to work hard on behalf of any candidate that makes an ironclad commitment on maintaining quotas on imports from China," said Allen Gant with Glen Raven Inc. in North Carolina and the first vice-chairman with the American Textile Manufacturers Institute. "We are also prepared to work hard against any candidate that will not defend our workers against these illegally subsidized imports. This industry is determined that we will make a difference in the 2004 election."

The coalition, which has no political party affiliation, said it is pushing to get every textile, apparel and fiber employee registered to vote. The group also wants to give textile workers score cards showing where candidates stand on the industry.

While the textile and apparel industries have lost more than 300,000 workers since 2001, the industries still employ more than 700,000 people across the nation.

Information from: Herald-Journal