FTC: Made In The USA Comments Concerning New Balance Athletic Shoe--P894219 August 7, 1997 The Honorable Robert Pitofsky Dear Mr. Pitosky: We are writing you in support of the new proposed 75% Made in the U.S.A. label guidelines. We are hoping that you give our letter some consideration and in some way can feel our concerns on what the 75% content means to some people who will feel the impact of your decision first hand if you decide to go with the 100% content. As stitchers for New Balance Athletic Shoe in Norridgewock, Maine. Where I might add, there aren't an abundance of jobs. We take pride in the fact that we attach that label on our shoes every day. These are real jobs, created by a global economy that includes parts and labor from the U.S. and at times from other countries when parts are no longer available in this country or the orders exceed our ability to produce the shoes. We as employees of New Balance Athletic Shoe for the past 15 years have always felt the pride passed on to us by Jim and Anne Davis (owners of New Balance) in making shoes in the U.S.A. The 75% content guidelines will allow them to continue making quality shoes in the U.S.A., This company has convinced their employees too believe them when they say their goal is to some day make all their shoes in the U.S.A. Considering the cheap overseas labor that is not a common goal in the shoe industry today. Who would be hurt if the guidlines said 100% content? Considering just this factory, most of us are high school graduates or less. We are single mothers or divorced women, husbands and wives, but most of all we are good, hard working, proud americans that are too proud to sit back and collect welfare, which is where 75% of us would be if New Balance closed today. Ask any taxpayer if 100% content would justify putting these people out of work and on the welfare line. We are not only employees of New Balance, but also voters and tax payers who understand the importance of the "Made in The U.S.A. " label. If the taxpayers could talk to us for 5 minutes they would want us to stay right where we are for the 75% content. A job is a job and that label at 75% content means we have ours. Thank you for listening to our concerns and please don't hurt the american people by unrealistically imposing a 100% content guideline. 75% is a fair compromise and the american economy and this team of stitchers who are proud to be making shoes for New Balance U.S.A. can only win. Sincerly Yours: Team FS-41 Team FS- 41 Members |