By Alabama Public Radio
Talladega, AL – Alabama's textile industry is suffering even more losses. Mohawk Industries in Talladega will end operations early next year. The move will affect 125 employees. Company officials says the yarn production plant will close January 30th. Mohawk will offer the workers severance packages, and some employees may be able to relocate to plants in other states. The decision to close the Talladega plant comes despite Mohawk's record earnings during the past three quarters.
Meanwhile, Alabama's continuing manufacturing decline has the attention of the state's business, political and labor leaders. Several of them met in Montgomery yesterday to begin considering ways to reverse the trend. Alabama House Speaker Seth Hammett says the Commission on Manufacturing Economic Stimulus and Free and Fair Trade has a tough job. He says Alabama has lost more than 75-thousand manufacturing jobs since 1995. The state legislature voted to create the commission in June at the request of the business lobbying group Manufacture Alabama.