More firms cut hours, not jobs

This text is replaced by the Flash movie. Although a recession had taken hold, Red Wing Shoe Co.

[Wilgeno]

Maybe times would be better for the workers if more of their boots were made in America. I bought a pair of Red Wing MC boots and they have a made in China tag in them. Why should I buy their boots when they are outsourcing them to China?

[Made in America]

The vast majority of the Red Wing product line is not made in America. Vasque, Worx, Carhartt, and Irish Setter are all Chinese made boots...with Made in the USA prices. The Chinese boots/shoes have now crept into the Red Wing line as well. It's a real challenge to find any Red Wing boots still made here. Makes you wonder what the glorious Union was doing (because collecting dues) while 90% of the product line was sent overseas. Can't help but think that my logger boots are some of the last ones to be made here. Red Wing shoe Company is turning into a sad story.

[The Good Reverend]

As a Red Wing native, I have many family members and friends who work (or have worked) for them. The company has been a sad story since they celebrated their 90th anniversary in '95. Locals wondered why they didn't wait to do a bigger 100th, but it was leaked that the company expected to be less popular locally due to outsourcing and layoffs by then; many wondered if they'd still have a plant in Red Wing by 2005!

Since '95, RWSC has kept the oldest fat cat management who look out for themselves, while laying off senior workers in any non-union position (ie: get new cheap engineers rather while laying off 25 year employees), and of course being forced by the union to maintain the positions of the highly paid senior plant workers rather than the 30 year old in this article.

Sounds like this state program has worked well. Glad some of the union cry-babies didn't get the layoffs they wanted. Aren't they as a "union" supposed to be out for the greatest good?!

[Overnighter]

Nice company. If this were a public company these jobs would have left the US 10 years ago!

[Overnighter]

Whooa, they are outsourcing now?

[hmmm]

We'll never have a real recovery as long as we don't have a strong manufacturing base. Wealth is CREATED in one of two ways - agriculture and manufacturing - turning natural resources/raw materials into food and other things we need. Moving money around Wall Street is not creating wealth. Service industries do not create wealth. I am not talking wealth on an individual basis Obviously an individual can make money providing a service - but that money has to originate somewhere and the best source of that is true wealth creation of agriculture and manufacturing. Economics classes and business schools don't apparently teach that anymore. If no one here has a decent job, who is going to buy their stuff?

[Dr Frank Lippenheimer]

This is how businesses struggle to survive Obamanomics. But eventually jobs will be cut in addition to hours and benefits.

Why? Because this Congress and this administration detest Free Enterprise; they detest Americans who take advantage of our traditional freedoms and manage to prosper quite handsomely all on their own. Liberal Democrats (most of whom have never worked a real job in their entire life) can't STAND that! Democrats live by the Union Shop mandate that seniority is all that matters -- that individual initiative, talent, effort, sacrifice mean nothing.

Soon we will ALL have our butts up in the air in Obama's collectivist rice paddy.

Read "Animal Farm" people -- and read it to your kids (now that the public schools have banned it) before it's too late.

[shop til you drop]

how's that "hopey changey" working out for you?

I'm sure glad the Obamanightmare spent alllllll those trillions of dollars to stimulate the economy........but but but....jobs keep getting cut and hours...and people are losing out.....and all these elitists in Washington can suggest is MORE TAXES...

TAX AND SPEND

when will the Libs wake up to the reality of this monstrosity

[hastings]

shop to you drop...
We had the same problem with Bush spending money
and getting us in two wars, but there is no price
you can put on the young lives lost, and still losing, Obama could keep spending and still not add up to what Bush already lost and spent!

[shoe worker]

I work at Red Wing Show and as far as the younger ones keeping there jobs most of them are Mexicans. When you ask if they are legal or not management says as far as we know they are. Don't believe that you can get laid off and only lose 5% of your wages. They took our pension away and now they are after our 401k that they don' even match. As far as the outsourcing of shoes it's all true,all we make in Red Wing is work boots. They are in business to make money not good shoes.

[Grandmaster G]

shoe worker wrote:

I work at Red Wing Show and as far as the younger ones keeping there jobs most of them are Mexicans. When you ask if they are legal or not management says as far as we know they are. Don't believe that you can get laid off and only lose 5% of your wages. They took our pension away and now they are after our 401k that they don' even match. As far as the outsourcing of shoes it's all true,all we make in Red Wing is work boots. They are in business to make money not good shoes.

So quit!
If they are such a horrible employer walkaway! Don't let the door hit you in the arse.
You maybe part of the reason!! Craftsmen of the past took great pride in their work. The quality kept them in business for a hundred years. Now people like yourselves have the type of attitude that destroys companies. If you worked for me, I would let you go immediately. If you can't do your job with pride, go pound sand. Of course they are in business to make money? Did you stop to think that is what it takes to pay your wages. Most blue collar employees have no idea what it takes to legally run a business with all the new environmental laws, labor laws, litigation for BS worker comp claims etc. The list goes on and on and then they have to deal with ungrateful employees. If employees appreciated their jobs and strived to improve daily we could turn this country around and again be the most prosperous nation in the world. Quit whining and approach your job like it is your last day unless you do the very best you can.

[shoe worker]

I can tell you don't have the foggiest idea what it is to work for greedy people like youself. If you you are so disgruntled with owning a business why are you still in it. I bet you pay top dollar at your place of employment.

[Grandmaster G]

shoe worker wrote:

I can tell you don't have the foggiest idea what it is to work for greedy people like youself. If you you are so disgruntled with owning a business why are you still in it. I bet you pay top dollar at your place of employment.

Sorry but you are wrong. I worked for one of the tightest a-holes ever. And I learned from him! You have no reason to call me greedy. You don't know me from a ham sand which! I don't own my own business, I manage one for someone else.... My employees make very good money and have an extremely handsome benefit package. I'm not disgruntled at all. I'm fair, driven and extremely blessed and proud. Many years of hard work. and not taking the easy way out. We learned the hard way! You want it, work for it. No excuses, no whining just an opportunity to work. I can tell you one thing. Our job is a whole lot less pleasant than working in a boot plant. Want a job?

[bdp]

Made in America wrote:

The vast majority of the Red Wing product line is not made in America. Vasque, Worx, Carhartt, and Irish Setter are all Chinese made boots...with Made in the USA prices. The Chinese boots/shoes have now crept into the Red Wing line as well. It's a real challenge to find any Red Wing boots still made here. Makes you wonder what the glorious Union was doing (because collecting dues) while 90% of the product line was sent overseas. Can't help but think that my logger boots are some of the last ones to be made here. Red Wing shoe Company is turning into a sad story.

I agree it is a sad story, but to say it is a challenge to find Red Wing Boots still made in the U.S.A is BS. You should get your facts right, Red Wing makes more footwear here in the U.S.A than any other shoe company. Its retards like you that actually hurt U.S business by spreading hear say like that. And yes Redwing does outsource, because in the footwear business if you dont you will not survive. Red Wing has over 10 different styles of logger boots still made right here in the U.S of A. You should call the company and ask 1-800-red-wing. see for yourself.