National
News
- June 2005
Miami , FL , May 22, 2005 (Company Release) - Garment
Corporation of America announces the addition of french
blue to its line of men's cotton-rich oxford executive
shirts and the introduction of the same shirt in a women's
style.
"The current wave of popularity for this color is
seen in the retail market nearly everywhere, and that trend
is reflected within the uniform industry as well," states
Lloyd Bennett, GCA vice president for marketing.
The men's style, 4514/4514E and women's style, 4414/4414E
are made of permanent press, reverse blend 60/40 cotton-poly,
4-1/4 ounce oxford cloth.
Features include an all-button front placket, box pleat
back, two-piece topstitched yoke, lined button-down banded
collar, lined and topstitched two-piece cuffs adjustable
with two buttons, and a hemmed spade-style left breast
pocket.
The men's style is now in stock in sizes 14 1/2, 32-33
to 19 1/2, 36-37. The women's style will be available mid-summer
in sizes 6 to 24.
For ordering information, contact GCA Customer Service
Department at 800-944-4500 or email: customerservice@gcauniforms.com.
 Salida, CA, May 12, 2005 (Company Release) -- This summer,
the Original S.W.A.T. Footwear Company will introduce its
latest Air boot, the Air S.A.S. 9” Side Zip. The
new style unites the best of all worlds into one boot:
the lighter weight and cushioning of bubble technology,
the convenience of a side zipper, and the exceptional comfort
and rugged durability that Original S.W.A.T. is known for.
The Air S.A.S. has been designed to have a modern, athletic
profile, enhanced by the clean look of round laces and
logo, rustproof lacing hardware. The boot has a plastic
shank, making it entirely metal-free. That means no more
annoying alarms at the airport metal detectors. The zipper
has an internal leather gusset to keep out debris, and
an ample Velcro tab to anchor the zipper pull in place.
The Air S.A.S. Side Zip is offered in black only and
will be available in sizes 7 - 12 with half sizes through
11.5, and 12 - 15 in whole sizes. Wide widths available
for sizes 8 - 15. The boot arrives in stores in August
2005 and carries an MSRP of $69.99.
For more information, contact Erin Cabezut at
209 545 2500, ext. 304
Washington , May 13, 2005 (Press Release) - Secretary
of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced today that the
department’s recommendations to close or realign
military facilities in the United States will better position
U.S. forces to confront this century’s threats. The
recommendation, if fully implemented, will generate an
estimated net savings of nearly $50 billion over the next
two decades. When combined with the anticipated savings
from overseas basing realignments around the world, the
projected net savings increases to $64.2 billion.
“Our current arrangements, designed for the Cold
War, must give way to the new demands of the war against
extremism and other evolving 21 st Century challenges,” Rumsfeld
said. The department’s BRAC recommendations, if adopted,
would close 33 major bases and realign 29 more.
The department’s BRAC recommendations were developed
by the military services and seven joint cross-service
groups. Each recommendation was created under the procedures
established in the Base Closure and Realignment Act of
1990, as amended. The BRAC analysis started with the 20-Year
Force Structure Plan and the department’s inventory
of facilities, and then applied BRAC selection criteria
that had been published early in 2004.
The department’s BRAC recommendations are intended
to:
- Enhance the military’s ability to meet contingency
surge or mobilization requirements;
- Retain those installations that have unique capabilities
that would be difficult to reconstitute at other locations;
- Consolidate similar or duplicative training and support
functions to improve joint war fighting;
- Transform important support functions – including
logistics, medicine and research and development – by
capitalizing on advances in technology and business practice.
The department’s recommendations will now be reviewed
by the BRAC Commission, which will seek comments from the
potentially affected communities. As it has in the past
four BRAC rounds, the department will assist affected communities
in a variety of ways. Department of Defense programs include
personnel transition and job training assistance, local
reuse planning grants, and streamlined property disposal.
The department will join with other federal agencies to
offer additional assistance to affected communities.
Once the commission has completed its review, it will
present its recommendations to the President. The President
must approve and submit the commission’s recommendations
to the Congress for review and appropriate action. The
entire process is expected to be completed by the end of
2005.
The full BRAC recommendations, additional information
regarding community assistance and other details, may
be found online at http://www.defenselink.mil/brac
.
Greensboro , NC , May 10, 2005 (News & Record, as
reported by Donald W. Patterson) - A major textile organization
with strong local ties has split from its fellow manufacturers
and will support a free-trade agreement with Central America
.
The endorsement by the National Council of Textile Organizations,
headed by Allen Gant Jr., president and CEO of Glen Raven,
could increase the trade agreement's chances of passing
in Congress.
The Bush administration wants approval of the Central
American Free Trade Agreement, but its passage has been
uncertain because of concerns about how it might affect
the U.S. textile industry. In fact, other textile and manufacturing
groups reiterated their opposition Monday to the agreement,
called CAFTA.
The NCTO board endorsed the agreement after the administration
said it would attempt to close some of the loopholes that
had troubled many in the textile industry.
The agreement lowers trade barriers between the U.S.
, Costa Rica , El Salvador , Guatemala , Honduras , Nicaragua
and the Dominican Republic .
As written, critics say, the agreement allows fabric
from countries such as China to be used to make garments
in Central America and then be shipped duty-free into the
United States .
"NCTO recognizes the strong and important ties between
the domestic industry and (these) countries," Gant
said in a statement. "The ... region is a very important
part of the domestic industry's supply chain and we need
this (agreement) to ensure that the U.S. textile industry
can remain competitive against China ."
The association's decision apparently turned on a number
of promises from the administration, including a pledge
from U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman to try to amend
the agreement after it is passed. To do so would require
the consent of all seven countries.
Portman said last week he will seek a change that says
pocket material and linings would have to be purchased
from one of the countries involved.
As the agreement is written, those materials can be purchased
anywhere, including China .
But some in the textile industry remain skeptical. "All
seven have to agree," said Lloyd Wood, a spokesman
for the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition,
an association in Washington with 150 members in the U.S.
textile and apparel industry. "They are relying on
other parties for everything they mentioned."
Critics see CAFTA as an opportunity to lose U.S. jobs.
Wood said, "This agreement will be a job killer, just
like (the North American Free Trade Agreement). If you
like NAFTA, you will like CAFTA."
Wood said that since the passage of NAFTA, the U.S. textile
and apparel sector has lost 882,300 jobs, or 57 percent
of the industry.
Washington observers say CAFTA will likely pass the Senate
but faces an uncertain future in the House. A recent head
count there indicates the administration has only 180 of
the 218 votes it needs for passage.
But NCTO's announcement could sway some votes. "This
will give a lot of members of Congress who were on the
fence, especially from textile states, a push to the CAFTA
side," said Pietra Rivoli, a business professor at
Georgetown University . "I think this gives them the
cover to vote for it."
Ohio , May 9, 2005 (AFP Via Yahoo News) - A U.S. county
introduced chain gangs for prisoners, complete with striped
hats and uniforms.
Two five-man gangs hit roadways in Butler County , Ohio
, north of Cincinnati , in an effort to reduce prison costs
and deter crime.
"I'm going to make 'em earn their keep and I don't
care if they like it or not," said Sheriff Richard
Jones. "I'm a very conservative sheriff and people
in my county like it."
A number of prison systems in the United States use low-risk
inmates to pick litter off roads or engage in work programs
outside jails. Few however make inmates wear chains, a
practice that has a sordid history.
The chain gang became a symbol of racist oppression during
the civil rights movement because of the violence with
which many black work gangs were treated. It became popular
again among hardline sheriffs in the mid-1990s but has
not gained widespread support.
Jones, who was elected sheriff five months ago, said
chain gang prisoners would be treated humanely. They will
get water, sunscreen and a break every hour. But he hopes
the humiliation and hard work will teach them to stay out
of jail.
"I want 'em to leave here with a bad feeling in
their mouth," he said. He also resents having to spend
money on dieticians, doctors and prescription drugs when
so many law-abiding people in his county are going without.
"We spend 30,000 dollars a year on prisoners and
we spend 3,000 dollars a year on kids in school," he
said. "The costs have gotten out of control."
Jonesboro , GA May 16, (New-Daily.com, as reported by
Ed Brock) - Clayton County Sheriff's Office Deputy Paco
Pieras stands out from his fellow deputies these days.
He is the first to don the new uniform that all deputies
in the department will be wearing by the end of July. Sheriff
Victor Hill is replacing all of the old tan and brown uniforms
with dark navy uniforms that resemble police uniforms.
But there shouldn't be any confusion by the public between
his deputies and police, Hill said.
"Our job out their is the same," Hill said.
The new uniforms won't cost extra because the department
will gradually phase them in as part of its regular allowance
for new uniforms. The county is supposed to dispense the
next allowance at the end of the fiscal year on July 31.
The resemblance between his deputies' new uniforms and
police uniforms is not unintentional, Hill said. "This
saves money in the long run because when consolidation
(of the Clayton County Police Department into the Sheriff's
Office) happens all we have to do is change the badge and
change the patches," Hill said.
Consolidation of the two departments is a long-term goal
of Hill's and he believes it will happen in two to four
years despite opposition from Clayton County Board of Commissioners
Chairman Eldrin Bell.
But along with keeping an eye toward consolidation, Hill
said he had two other, more important reasons for changing
the color of his deputies' uniforms. Number one, the Sheriff's
Office needs a new image because it is going in a new direction.
Number two is that having two law enforcement agencies
with different-colored uniforms represents a "childish,
gang-like mentality."
Jonesboro resident Tamicka McCloud said she's not too
sure about the change.
"I kind of like the uniforms the way they are ...
to distinguish between the two," McCloud said.
Alpharetta, GA, May 3, 2005 (Textileweb) - Eton Systems,
the world’s leading provider of unit production systems
(UPS) for the sewn-product industries, announces the creation
of a special business unit focused on providing factory
automation solutions for producers of apparel and other
textile-related products for the US military. James Hoerig,
Eton ’s vice president of sales has named Dan Pittman,
director of engineering and support to head the new business
unit. The move comes in response to rapidly growing demand
for Eton ’s automated materials handling and shop
floor control systems in this mission-critical industry
segment.
In contrast to recent trends that have seen many US apparel
and textile manufacturing companies steadily losing ground
to sharp increases in imports, domestic military contractors
are being challenged to deliver higher levels of production
through greater efficiencies. This welcomed boost in manufacturing
activity is the result of increased demand for uniforms
and other military gear during wartime.
The Eton System comprises a custom-designed overhead
conveyor system that physically moves products of all types
and sizes through the production process, eliminating manual
transportation time as well as non-productive handling
time by ergonomically positioning the product resulting
in less strain and fatigue for the operators. The system
also collects shop-floor data that supports sophisticated
process control management. By eliminating waste and other
non value-added activities, Eton supports lean manufacturing
practices such as minimizing floor space requirements,
reducing work-in-process inventories, and increasing productivity
- among many other advantages.
Of special significance to military contractors, Eton
enables these manufacturers to meet special “surge
demand” capabilities required in these contracts.
And, due to quick throughput and lean WIP, it allows them
to delay commitments of heavy demand fabrics (such as those
used in the new combat uniform programs) to specific product
styles until much closer to required delivery times.
Eton Systems AB is the innovator and world’s leading
supplier of the Unit Production System (UPS), the renowned
productivity and management system developed specifically
for use in the sewn-products industries. Eton ’s
UPS automates material flow through the production process
and minimizes material handling for each operation throughout
the manufacturing process. Eton ’s technology and
know-how enables companies to manage material and information
in the most efficient fashion, including end-to-end data
management from operations performed within as well as
outside of the UPS system.
Headquartered in Sweden , the company operates with direct
subsidiaries and agents worldwide. Eton Systems Inc. is
based in Alpharetta , GA and is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Eton Systems AB.
For more information on Eton Systems,
phone: (770) 475-8022 ( USA - Georgia )
or + 46 33 231200 ( Sweden ); e-mail: sales@etonsystems.com;
or visit the website at: www.etonsystems.com.
Charlotte, NC, May 7, 2005 (Observer, as reported by
Stella Hopkins) - North Carolina prison inmates sew uniforms
for themselves and their guards of fabric that is often
imported, putting tax dollars from textiles' heartland
in the hands of overseas mill owners.
At least 60 percent of the fabric on recent prison orders
worth $3.5 million came from factories abroad, mostly in
Asia , according to an Observer review of state purchasing
information. State prisons also imported finished inmate
clothing and other textiles, such as pillowcases, the review
found.
Some overseas orders meant lost sales for Carolinas mills,
already struggling to compete with lower-cost imports.
State records don't make clear total government savings
from buying less expensive foreign goods. But on just one
of 15 large textile contracts reviewed, the state could
have spent as much as $708,500 more for goods made in the
Carolinas .
The state's foreign buys showcase the national debate
over the role cash-strapped governments play in the loss
of U.S. jobs to lower-paid foreign workers. The controversy
has focused mainly on the outsourcing of government computer
work, such as programming, and call centers. The prison's
use of foreign fabric shows factory jobs also are at risk,
as they have long been in the private sector.
North Carolina purchasing rules require agencies to buy
at the lowest price for goods and services. There is no
requirement to buy U.S. goods.
"It seems ironic that the state of North Carolina
would be helping Asian mills undermine U.S. textile companies
and their workers," said Cass Johnson, president of
the National Council of Textile Organizations in Washington
, D.C. , an industry trade group. "I would hope that
the state legislature would see the folly in undermining
both the North Carolina tax base and a major North Carolina
manufacturing industry and change the rules."
A North Carolina bill likely to come up for a vote in
the coming week would require state agencies, when soliciting
bids, to ask where work will be done or goods made. The
bill wouldn't require domestic buying.
State Rep. Rick Glazier, a Democrat from Fayetteville
, said he has heard no opposition since introducing the
bill in March. The bill is one of dozens proposed by legislators
across the country during the past two years to address
government's growing use of outsourcing and foreign goods.
Glazier wasn't aware of details of the state's foreign
fabric use until told by the Observer.
"I'm concerned, if that's accurate, both from an
economic and public perception point of view," he
said. "It's something the legislators needs to know
about and make policy decisions about."
Glazier's bill would put into law part of a 2003 executive
directive by Gov. Mike Easley, a Democrat. He called for
a review of state contracts to determine whether work was
being done overseas. He also directed that state agencies
ask vendors bidding on contracts where work will be done.
Easley's move came three days after an August 2003 Observer
story revealed that the state was among 40 in which food-stamp
recipients relied on call centers in India . Last year,
the state spent $1.2 million to have calls from North Carolina
recipients answered at an in-state center.
On Friday, Easley didn't directly address prisons' use
of foreign fabric, but said state law "requires that
state agencies make prudent business decisions to protect
taxpayer money."
North Carolina correctional officers' blue pants are
stitched in prison sewing plants of Indian fabric. The
nylon in their jackets comes from Taiwan . Inmates bed
down with navy blankets made of fabric from India and pillowcases
from Pakistan .
Textile executives and salespeople say imported textiles
have been taking hold in prisons nationwide for the same
reason they're supplanting domestic production outside
prison walls.
"It's price, price, price," said Jay Hellegers,
vice president of sales and marketing for Raytex Fabrics
in New York . "It's harder and harder and harder to
be competitive."
For North Carolina , Raytex has a contract to supply
light blue poplin used to make inmate dresses and uniform
shirts for correctional officers. The fabric is made in
Pakistan , finished in New Jersey , Hellegers said.
He says he's lucky to have the order with some U.S. production.
He recently lost an order for another prison system to
a supplier bringing in Pakistani fabric, fully finished.
Hellegers said that fabric has a price advantage over his
of about 10 cents a yard.
In 2003, Galey & Lord lost a bid on the blue poplin
that went to Raytex and also for fabric to make inmates'
boxer shorts. The company, once based in Greensboro and
now operating from Atlanta , is one of the largest U.S.
apparel fabric makers.
Galey would have filled the contracts with yarn spun
in Gastonia and fabric woven in its Marion plant, said
Ed Rumowicz, who handles the company's prison sales.
The fabric he bid would have been dyed and finished in
Galey's big South Carolina plant in Society Hill, about
90 miles southeast of Charlotte.
Galey's bid of $1.80 per yard for the poplin was 50 cents
higher than Raytex, a total difference of $50,000 for the
order. For the boxer short fabric, Galey bid $1.74 per
yard, almost triple the winning bid of 65 cents for Pakistani
fabric, according to state records. Tabb Textiles in Alabama
was the winning bidder, with a total price of $708,500
less than the Galey bid.
Brookfield , MO , May 11, 2005 (Daily News Bulletin)
- With the recent closing of its Waxahachie , TX plant,
Stanbury Uniforms is looking to expand its operation here
by adding equipment and personnel.
Ninety more jobs will eventually become available in
Brookfield as the result of the consolidation of the Brookfield
and Waxahachie , TX plants, and the overhead associated
with running two facilities will be reduced considerably
according to Stanbury Uniforms CEO Gary Roberts.
The head man at the nation's biggest supplier of band
uniforms explains, "We've been operating the second
plant more than 600 miles away since 1997 and in the interest
of efficiency, customer service, and quality control for
our products, we felt it was time to move that facility
back home [to Brookfield]...to the community were we've
been operating successfully for nearly 50 years."
If Roberts has his way and Stanbury Uniforms continues
to enjoy its present growth, the widely-heralded fabricator
of band uniforms will thrive in Brookfield for many years
to come.
The future here for Stanbury Uniforms is very bright
indeed when one considers that moving the Texas production
facility here lock, stock and barrel will dictate the need
to enlarge the physical plant on Industrial Drive . "We
will eventually need more space here as production increases
and we make full use of the machines we inherited from
the Texas facility," says Roberts.
Enumerating the advantages that will result from the
consolidation-reduced overhead in the form of less travel,
fewer management personnel to compensate, and reduced shipping
costs-the Stanbury Uniforms CEO sees benefits for the employees
who have owned the company since 1993 a well as its customers.
Washington , DC , May 13, 2005 (dcmilitary.com, as reported
by Michael Norris) - A reorganization of the Provost Marshall
Office that frees up soldiers for essential training is
becoming visible at installation gates in the Fort Myer
Military Community. Army green camouflage BDUs now mix
with the light-blue shirts of Chenaga security contractors
and the dark blue uniform and gold-striped pants of a new
civilian police force.
The new civilian Fort Myer Military Community Police
Department has been formed to assist in manning gates and
patrolling the installation, while the duties of the contractor
that provides security guards at gate search lanes has
been expanded to include checking I.D. cards and vehicle
stickers at the gate.
"We're transitioning to a total civilian police
force," said Lt. Col. Anthony E. Kelley, director
of emergency services. He said only his position and the
Provost Marshal operations NCO would continue as military
positions. For the short term he said soldiers would continue
to be a presence at installation gates.
Kelly said the Military District of Washington provided
funding for the new police force and that officers and
contractors have been undergoing training the past few
weeks to prepare them for the new duties.
Kelly said the personnel change allows soldiers to get
necessary mission training in case of deployment. "We're
doing this in order to release soldiers back to their units
so they can train in case they're deployed," he emphasized.
Kelly stressed the civilian police force taking over
duties from the MPs is a highly professional force.
He said Chenaga security guards would function as the
soldiers have at the gates while continuing to operate
search lanes.
Other than the uniforms, employees and visitors entering
post should notice no differences.
"There will be no decrease in the number of people
manning access control points," Kelly said.
"The exact same procedures will be in effect [in
terms of security and law enforcement]," said Chief
Timothy Wolfe, head of the civilian police force.
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