Cabinet maker to lay off at 3 plants

Another Company suffering from the MADE IN CHINA import policies of the United States Congress.

What is Dick Lugar and Evan Byah doing to correct this injustice? The answer is the same thing they are doing the illegal immigration issue, absolutely
nothing. Because to do so would require leadership and a commitment to do the will of the people. Remember, Congress is self serving, that is why nothing that benefits the American people ever gets passed into law by these elected officials.
Remember, your job will probably be next.

Why do they always announce these things right before Christmas. Sounds a little sadistic to me.

They generally layoff before the new year so they don't have to pay the benefits due to the workers for the new year. That happened to me.

I would imagine this is a result in the slow down in the housing market. Fewer houses being built means fewer cabinets being needed.

You hear so much about it when Mitch brings in new jobs, but when jobs are leaving the state, the story gets a couple of paragraphs. I guess that would make Mitch look bad...

My father owns a smaller woodworking company in Southern Indiana that supplies wood components to MasterBrand, among others. His business is suffering greatly due to the competition from China. The woodworking industry in Indiana may all but disappear within the next two years if Congress doesn't do something to help these companies. My father had to lay off workers in just the past few weeks, something he hated to do at this time of the year, but there was no other choice. Sales are down so much, he can barely make payroll, and he has run his company successfully since 1967.

<I would imagine this is a result in the slow down in the housing market. Fewer houses being built means fewer cabinets being needed.>

The slow down in the housing market is part of it, but business has been greatly declining for all these companies in the past five years due to our trade policies with China. The Chinese are creating wood products at such a cheap rate, that combined with the favorable trade policies, local Indiana companies can't compete. Almost all the business my father's company has lost in the past four years has been due to his clients now buying from the Chinese. The only time his business picks up now is when the Chinese deliver an inferior shipment or the container ships get held up in delays at port. Then, of course, his clients panic and want him to rush ship components to them. I wish the Indianapolis Star would do an investigative series on this situation. Indiana is being hit very hard, and many family-owned companies are shutting down.

It's tough for all of us. I had to burn Pinocchio this morning just to stay warm. Don't tell the kids.

Why doesn't Masterbrand go to the local government and ask for tax break incentives? Governments love to give out the tax breaks to companies.

Steve Strawder Col Ret wrote:

Another Company suffering from the MADE IN CHINA import policies of the United States Congress.
What is Dick Lugar and Evan Byah doing to correct this injustice? The answer is the same thing they are doing the illegal immigration issue, absolutely
nothing. Because to do so would require leadership and a commitment to do the will of the people. Remember, Congress is self serving, that is why nothing that benefits the American people ever gets passed into law by these elected officials.
Remember, your job will probably be next.

You are so right on! My husband has been out of work since September he is over 60 that makes it even worse. His resume hit's the trash before it hits a person who can HIRE!
I wish Mitch, Bayh and of course LUGAR all had to deal with this stuff themselves maybe then they would SERVE THE PEOPLE. Here is what it goint to happen when the illegals get a chance to be american's they will vote them out and vote in Spanish speaking POLITICANS! Won't be any different just most of us won't know what they are saying EITHER

Steve Strawder Col Ret wrote:

Another Company suffering from the MADE IN CHINA import policies of the United States Congress.
What is Dick Lugar and Evan Byah doing to correct this injustice? The answer is the same thing they are doing the illegal immigration issue, absolutely
nothing. Because to do so would require leadership and a commitment to do the will of the people. Remember, Congress is self serving, that is why nothing that benefits the American people ever gets passed into law by these elected officials.
Remember, your job will probably be next.

While there is certainly merit to this argument, the simple fact remains that Americans demand the cheapest price possible regardless of the side effects. Asian suppliers produce products for the least cost. Maybe Americans should have been a bit more forward thinking when they began the rush to foreign made goods.

You are voting republicans and than asking why why why economy is in the toilet?

Simple 27% import tax just like EU and India. Require corporate taxes be paid at sales country.

So usual republican tax shelters like stuff maid in china, sold in US and tax paid in caribbean islands would not be allowed. Close offshore bank that pays for US companies to "expand" offshore using US taxpayer money. Remove all offshore taxbreaks.

Never going to happened. As long as people voting for crooks.

Reality Bites wrote:

<quoted text>
While there is certainly merit to this argument, the simple fact remains that Americans demand the cheapest price possible regardless of the side effects. Asian suppliers produce products for the least cost. Maybe Americans should have been a bit more forward thinking when they began the rush to foreign made goods.

Bingo.

Geppetto wrote:

It's tough for all of us. I had to burn Pinocchio this morning just to stay warm. Don't tell the kids.

LMAO

We are helping China get these jobs, also we are helping China get rich by borrowing billions of dollars to fight this illegal war. I bet the owners of this company isn't taking any money out of their pockets to help these individuals that are being layed off. Maybe Mitchie Boy will give them a large tax break to help them stay in business.

It is not only just China that is causing the problems, it is also the Central America is the blame also, cheap labor, sweat shops just to name a few. Yes our politicans are to blame too. But first of all we are to blame for this problems, we elect these liars to these offices.

Hmmm wrote:

You are voting republicans and than asking why why why economy is in the toilet?
Simple 27% import tax just like EU and India. Require corporate taxes be paid at sales country.
So usual republican tax shelters like stuff maid in china, sold in US and tax paid in caribbean islands would not be allowed. Close offshore bank that pays for US companies to "expand" offshore using US taxpayer money. Remove all offshore taxbreaks.
Never going to happened. As long as people voting for crooks.

Yeah right. Great idea. We should model our economy after India's.

Just a note, MasterBrand imports a lot of the wood they use in their cabinets from China. My mother and sister have worked there for 30 years and part of the problem is the management. These people don't know much about producing cabinets.

You can thank your politicians in Washington (both Rep. & Dems). They have done nothing to stop jobs from going to Mexico, China & other countries. Too much cash making its way back to politicians pockets. We must fight back!