Community reacts to Jockey job losses
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

An early morning announcement Wednesday, July 19, that Jockey International would close sewing operations at its Millen plant, resulting in the loss of 203 jobs, sent tidal waves of disbelief and shock among employees and the community as a whole. Company officials made the announcement shortly after workers arrived and then sent them home for the day to digest packets of information concerning benefits and assistance that would be available to them.

"It's true," said employee Ann Johnson as though to convince herself.

"I've been with the company 40 years and am two years away from retirement. I can't feel sorry for myself for sympathizing with other employees. There are husbands and wives, whole families, that all work at Jockey," she said.

Susan Godbee, a 32-year veteran of the company, said that she had been a little uneasy since the company's Employee Appreciation Day in May.

"I knew we were slow and that things had not picked up. And I just felt like something was not right when none of the usual management folks showed up in May," she said.

As for the future, she said, "I don't know what everybody is going to do. I'm going to stay there until I've got to go." Jockey employees are not alone in their concern for the future. Local merchants and business owners are also unnerved.

"It's definitely going to hurt the community. We depend on the employees at Jockey for our business. Jockey has been the backbone of this community for many years. It's definitely going to be missed," said James Poole of Farmers Furniture Company.

Johnny Neal of Neal Hardware expressed similar thoughts, "We are saddened to learn of the loss of Jockey International. For over 50 years, Jockey has provided good jobs with good wages for its employees. Jockey has also been a major customer for many of the businesses in this area. The closing of Jockey will be a blow to the economies of Millen and the surround areas."

Alan Jarrard of Jarrard Chevrolet expressed a desire to see new industry enter Jenkins County as well as concern for affected Jockey employees.

"I think it's extremely unfortunate for the employees, and I'm hopeful that our community leaders can attract other industry to our area, to not only allow these people to have employment, but to expand the opportunity to others as well," he said.

Kirk Rocker of Regions Bank commented, "Jockey has been a valuable industry in this community for 55 years. This will have a tremendous economic impact not only on the individuals affected, but on the businesses."

Jenkins County Hospital will also be impacted as well said chief executive officer Pete Mills.

"It's going to hurt the hospital. They did a lot of hospitalization, inpatient and outpatient, through the Jockey insurance plan. It was a pretty good account. It will affect the hospital."

While the affect of the job losses on the local economy is speculative at this point, city and county officials do predict a decline in sales tax revenue as well as a "ripple effect" that may impact some local businesses and other establishments.

Jockey employee Ann Johnson, however, is determined to keep a hopeful attitude.

"I know that when God closes one door, He opens another," she said.