NEW YORK — The ILGWU took its fight against the proposed shutdown of domestic production by The Leslie Fay Cos. to the company’s corporate headquarters Thursday morning.
About 150 demonstrators, carrying handprinted signs, chanting and ringing cowbells, circled in front of 1400 Broadway for a little more than an hour. Placards had such messages as “Help save our jobs” and “We want fair negotiations.”
Signs also drew attention to the executive incentive program recently proposed by the company. As reported, the plan — which has the potential to pay incentives to four senior officials of up to 100 percent of their base salaries if they succeed in turning the company around — has been submitted to bankruptcy court for approval. Leslie Fay has been operating in Chapter 11 since April 1993.
The demonstrators, according to union representatives, included about 50 workers who were bused from the Wilkes-Barre, Pa., area, where Leslie Fay’s U.S. production is centered. Others included workers from Leslie Fay’s sample and cutting rooms here. The demonstration was part of a nationwide campaign by the union, which has already passed out leaflets protesting the shutdown in front of stores in other cities.
According to Leslie Fay’s latest 10-K report, overseas production accounted for 72 percent of its sales in 1993. The company has stated that shifting the remainder of its production overseas was necessary if it is to compete effectively in the future.