More than 500 employees laid off permanently at TNS Mills

GAFFNEY, S.C. - At least 550 employees at six TNS Mills plants have learned their temporary layoffs have become permanent, the company says. <br> <br> The textile manufacturing company will layoff workers at plants in four different cities -- Blacksburg, Spartanburg, Gaffney and Greer. <br> <br> In August and September, TNS told employees that it would be cutting back production and layoffs would start Nov. 15. <br> <br> Officials said at the time they hoped to retool the plants, get them back in operation and rehire the workers. <br> <br> &#34;We were very hopeful that we could make some changes and get into a different product line, but that was not successful,&#34; company spokesman Norman Shaw said. &#34;We continue to be hurt by foreign imports.&#34; <br> <br> A Gaffney spinning facility is the only South Carolina plant to remain open, Shaw said. <br> <br> He said the company will not offer severance packages and does not plan to shift workers to other plants because facilities remain open only in Georgia and Alabama. <br> <br> At one time TNS operated 20 plants. <br> <br> <br>