203 to lose jobs at Jockey
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Sewing operations at the Millen plant of Jockey International will be terminated by Nov. 18 with 203 employees losing their jobs. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)

Approximately 203 workers, or 20 percent, of Jenkins County's industrial workforce of 1,025 will lose their jobs over the next few months as Jockey International phases out its sewing operations at the Millen plant. The announcement was made last week that starting Sept. 18, all sewing positions and related jobs at the facility would begin to be phased out.

All affected positions will be eliminated by Nov. 17. It is possible that some affected positions will be eliminated before Sept. 18. In those cases, pay and benefits will continue for the affected employees through Sept. 18.

Cutting and related support operations, which account for approximately 60-70 jobs, will continue at the facility, said Jim Sinor, Jockey vice-president of manufacturing.

"Jockey plans to consolidate the Millen sewing production into other Jockey owned plants and Jockey contractors. The decision to shift the Millen sewing production was made after a careful review of the costs of sewing operations in the U.S.," said Edward Emma, Jockey president and chief operating officer.

"Jockey regrets the impact the elimination of sewing production will have on our Millen employees," Emma continued. "Jockey will provide severance pay, benefits continuation and job skill training assistance to all impacted Jockey employees.

Employees must continue to work with Jockey through their scheduled release dates or they will not receive severance pay and benefits, however.

Affected employees are also eligible for assistance from the Georgia Department of Labor.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond issued the following statement, "The layoffs at Jockey International will not only create difficult situations for the workers and their families, but also will have an economic impact on the Jenkins County area. I want the people of Jockey International to know that they are not alone in dealing with the problem. We are prepared to assist them."

Local reactions to the job losses have been ones of disbelief and concern for the affected employees.

"The closing of Jockey makes the need for new employment opportunities in Jenkins County even more urgent. Jockey has been a very good corporate citizen in Millen for many years, and we will certainly miss their presence here in the future. Our community effort needs to be focused on securing an industry or industries which will be prosperous for both the industry and the citizens of Jenkins County," said James Henry, chairman of the Jenkins County Commissioners.

He continued, "Contacts have been made with Rep. Burns, Sen. Powell, Congressman Barrow, Gov. Perdue, Dept. of Labor, Swainsboro Tech, and possibly other state agencies to seek assistance. Efforts are directed to permit affected employees to receive job retraining and other benefits through the Dept of Labor and other state agencies to ease the transition to other employment opportunities. Sources of assistance through the federal government are also being sought. Further discussions with Jockey officials will also seek their help to find new jobs for their former employees."

Paula Herrington, Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce executive director, made similar comments.

"I've already been in contact with the Governor's office, the Georgia Economic Development office and the Georgia Unemployment office. The chamber is doing everything possible to help these people. Many of them have worked at Jockey for 20-30 years, and this is devastating for them. We will also intensify our efforts to secure additional industry for Jenkins County," she said.

Al Knight, City of Millen administrator, commented, "The families are our main concern. It's going to hurt them. We are looking at where these people can be relocated to earn an income."

Jockey International began operations in 1892 in Kenosha Wisconsin as Coopers Inc. and in Millen in 1951 as Coopers, Inc. of Georgia. The company name was changed to Jockey International in 1972 and the local plant moved into is location on U.S. Highway 25 North in June 1975. The facility is located on approximately 464 acres of land north of Millen.

Jockey has licenses in 12 foreign countries permitting the production of Jockey underwear and the Millen sewing facility is the last such operation it has in the United States.