Since last November when Philips decided to close the award-winning lighting fixture plant in Sparta, Tenn., more than 20,000 people have signed our petition to “Tell Philips: Keep the Lights On in Sparta.” We delivered that petition to the new CEO in the Netherlands in April.
Feeling the heat, Philips is spinning, putting out a “fact” sheet, saying that the employees were given advance notice of the closing and that the company is working to find a new owner for the plant.
In fact, this closing will devastate the workforce and the surrounding community, shuttering a profitable facility and costing the company millions – and dramatically increasing their carbon footprint – to relocate to Mexico, just to save a few bucks on labor.
The truth is, after taking more than $7 million from American taxpayers in stimulus funds, Philips is ditching a skilled and loyal work force and taking the low road to Mexico.
According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, between 2000 and 2011, 106 industrial plants in counties surrounding White County (Sparta) have shut down. The plants include auto parts suppliers, heavy equipment makers and manufacturers of consumer goods like Wilson Sporting Goods (golf clubs), Oshkosh B’Gosh (clothing) and Sharpie markers.
Combined with the shutdown of retail outlets and other surrounding businesses the factory closures have resulted in 8,900 notices of layoffs or permanent job losses in the counties.
