Well another NW employer is getting ready to bite the dust at the expense of 300+ American workers. It is my understanding that plans have been laid to move Luhr Jensens mfg. division to China.

Don't think for a minute that this will mean cheaper prices as they were bought by Normark/Rapala

Can anyone say outsourcing is good for America with a straight face anymore?

I think they are keeping the smoker line, aren't they? At least its something.

Fish Bear,

I am not sure, what I heard through the grapevine was they sold out lock, stock, and barrel and all of their employees are out of work because the Mfg lines were being moved to China by a Normark decision to cut costs.

I was told by one of their employees that they will keep the smoker line.

I wonder what the deal is... no profit in making small items anymore? Labor/transportation costs too high? Anyone know?

now that china ownes this countries financing..... and the manufacturing..... i think they are gonna tell us that they will do whatever the hell they want with taiwan...and tell us what are you gonna do about it?... our president is giving them major control over our economy.....

and they are a brutally repressive govt.... yet we destroy cuba and allow our own citizens to die before well allow cuban doctors to help them in an emergency(katrina) and at the same time give away our country to china ........it makes no sense at all....

our politicians and ceo's are destroying our country and selling out everyone in this country but themselves....

Here's the skinny on what is going on with Luhr Jensen as told to me by the president of Normark (in an interview I did):

Luhr Jensen is now part of Rapala VMC. However, the smoker and food products line was retained by Phil Jensen.

Currently, almost everything will be status quo ante for the next year or so as Rapala figures out the best way to incorporate LJ into the company. However, much of the manufacturing will likely move to China (to Rapala's factory), and some will move to Finland. Some will be kept in Hood River, where Rapala will maintain a research/development facility. They plan no changes in the way the company does business. The president did say that they "didn't want another Storm"--referring to Rapala's acquisition of that company and the subsequent changes.

While some folks have lost their jobs and more will as well, not all jobs will disappear. I think something like 45 jobs will remain with the smoker division, but that figure is kind of hazy at the moment. I didn't hear, and doubt that anyone knows yet, how many jobs will remain in Hood River.

Keith

Labor and transportation are probably slightly higher, but greed is considerably higher than both since China partnered with the United States of America, Incorporated