Sens. Markey and Warren, Rep. Trahan Call on Expected New Brooks Brothers Owner to Maintain Haverhill Manufacturing Jobs
Massachusetts (August 18, 2020) – Today, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) and Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) sent a letter to the expected new owner of Brooks Brothers asking that the company keep open the Southwick facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The recent bankruptcy of Brooks Brothers terminated the jobs of more than 400 jobs at the facility, and many of these workers are members of UNITE HERE 187. The expected owners, Authentic Brands Group, has previously purchased two American clothing retailers and committed to keeping those factories open and maintaining manufacturing in America.
“The Southwick facility has a long history of employing needle trade workers to contribute to the Brooks Brothers’ iconic brand,” write the lawmakers in their letter. “Those employees, dedicated members of UNITE HERE Local 187, are skilled garment workers who have made some of the finest clothing in the world. They deserve to be included in your vision of maintaining jobs across the Brooks Brothers’ network.”
On May 15, Brooks Brothers issued a WARN Act notice that their manufacturing facility in Haverhill would be closing permanently in late July due to financial constraints caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Congresswoman Trahan and Senators Warren and Markey previously wrote to Brooks Brothers Group, Inc. Chairman and CEO Claudio Del Vecchio requesting the company provide fair severance to the 413 employees set to be laid off.
Full text of the letter can be found below:
Jamie Salter
CEO and Chairman
Authentic Brands Group
100 W 33rd Street, Suite 1007
New York, NY 1001
Dear Mr. Salter,
As the congressional delegation representing Haverhill, Massachusetts and the 413 employees of the Southwick factory located in Haverhill, we write to ask that you continue the tradition of American manufacturing by keeping the Southwick facility open.
As you know, Brooks Brothers’ recent bankruptcy filing has terminated the jobs of the 413 Southwick employees as of July 20, 2020. While the company has agreed to extend health care coverage through the end of this month and will pay out accrued vacation and sick time, it has not agreed to any severance package, and these employees – our constituents – will soon be without a source of income. As the expected new owner of Brooks Brothers, you have a significant opportunity to save these workers’ livelihoods.
The Southwick facility has a long history of employing needle trade workers to contribute to the Brooks Brothers’ iconic brand. Those employees, dedicated members of UNITE HERE Local 187, are skilled garment workers who have made some of the finest clothing in the world. They deserve to be included in your vision of maintaining jobs across the Brooks Brothers’ network. We are encouraged by your past commitment to American manufacturing jobs and keeping American factories open after your purchases of Hart Schaffner and Hickey Freeman in 2012, and we urge you to continue this commitment, and Brooks Brothers’ Made in USA tradition, by keeping the Southwick factory open.
Thank you for your consideration of our request. We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter at your convenience.
Sincerely,
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