Textile maker lays off nearly 2,500, closes plants in four states

<p>WestPoint Stevens Inc., one of the nation's largest makers of bed and bath textiles, will cut 2,465 jobs and close plants in four states because of the Jan. 1 end of worldwide quotas limiting cheap imports.</p><p>The company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2003, will close plants in Burlington, N.C., Clemson, S.C.; Middletown, Ind. and Drakes Branch, Va.</p><p>WestPoint Stevens, whose brands of towels and bed linens include Martex, Stevens and Lady Pepperell, said Monday that the layoffs are part of its restructuring plan.</p><p>About 560 workers will lose their jobs in Burlington, 1,345 at three plants in Clemson, 450 in Drakes Branch, and 110 in Middletown. The plants are expected to close by late March or early April, the company said.</p><p>The closings and layoffs "are directly related to the removal of textile quotas from low-wage countries," the company said in a statement. Much of the work will be shifted overseas.</p><p>"We must be flexible in maintaining the most profitable balance between our domestic manufacturing and goods sourced from overseas. This becomes more critical with quotas removed," WestPoint Stevens president and chief executive M.L. "Chip" Fontenot said.</p><p>WestPoint Stevens filed for reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in June 2003. A year ago, it announced the closure of two plants in the west Georgia town of LaGrange, a loss of 550 jobs.</p><p>The company, which was founded almost 200 years ago, also closed its Roanoke Rapids, N.C., towel-making complex, the South's first major unionized textile mill and the inspiration for the award-winning 1979 film "Norma Rae" that starred Sally Field.</p><p>In the closings announced Monday, WestPoint Stevens said it would apply by individual facility for assistance for laid-off associates from the Trade Act of 1974. In areas where affected plants are located near other WestPoint Stevens facilities, the company said it would attempt to place laid-off workers in jobs at the other plants.</p><p>___</p><p>On the Net:</p><p>HASH(0x2132c0c)</p>

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