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Furnishings caucus keeps eye on jobs
American furniture companies show some signs of finally leaving behind the lethargy that has subdued the industry off and on for the past several years.
Paul B. Johnson , STAFF WRITER, High Point Enterprise

As the spring International Home Furnishings Market formally opens today, many manufacturers are reporting hopeful signs for revenue growth. Attendance this week at activities before market's formal opening has been strong, and retailers such as Haverty Furniture Companies Inc. have reported improving sales for the first part of this year.

Whether a furniture industry turnaround translates into jobs for Triad and state workers who manufacture casegoods and upholstered pieces, though, remains uncertain.

Even with the signs of an upturn in the furniture industry, companies continue to cut jobs in America. For example, Ethan Allen stunned the community of Boonville, N.Y., earlier this week when it announced it would close its 50-year-old plant there, costing 266 people their paychecks.

The number of American furniture manufacturing workers has dropped from 607,700 at the start of 2002 to 567,000 at the beginning of this year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Between January 2003 and last month, 19 furniture plant closings and 14 separate furnishings-related layoffs were announced in North Carolina, according to the state Employment Security Commission. The closings and layoffs will eliminate 4,672 jobs.

Davidson County has been particularly pummeled by the domestic furnishings manufacturing slump. Between January 2003 and last month, 1,650 job losses were announced through eight separate furnishings plant closings or layoffs in Davidson, the ESC reports.

Guilford County lost 239 furnishings-related jobs last year, the ESC reports, while Forsyth county recorded 670 job losses through two plant closings.

Some American furniture companies are seeking the support of the federal government, lobbying for an antidumping petition that would stem imports from China. The Asian economic giant has emerged as the focal point for debate about whether the hemorrhaging of furniture factory jobs in America can be halted.

The main concern of the Congressional Furnishings Caucus remains jobs in the furniture manufacturing industry, said Rep. Howard Coble, R-6th and co-chairman of the group.

"When I was first elected to Congress (in 1984), tobacco, furniture and textiles were our bread and butter," he said. "Now each of the three is beleaguered."

Caucus members are monitoring the effort by some American furniture manufacturers to convince the U.S. government to impose limits on imports of Chinese furniture to America. The deadline for a decision on whether to impose tariffs on Chinese furniture imports has been extended to June 17.

"I hope we can prevail on this antidumping proposal," said Coble, who co-founded and is co-chairman of the caucus with Rep. Mel Watt, D-12th.

The objective of the caucus since its inception has been to serve as a unified voice in Congress to express points of view to the White House on issues of importance to the furnishings industry, Watt said.

The caucus can pressure the administration on issues such as manipulated Chinese currency values hurting American furniture manufacturers, dumping of subsidized furniture products in America by Chinese manufacturers and unfair trade agreements that hurt U.S. furniture companies, Watt said.

Trade representatives from the U.S. government were supposed to consult this week with their counterparts from the People's Republic of China on trade issues.

"We are trying to encourage them (the White House) to do the right thing, to take a proactive role on matters that would be beneficial to U.S. furniture makers," Watt said.

The caucus has grown to have 35 members since its formation at the start of last year, Coble said.

Caucus members met in early March and will gather again next month, Coble said.

"I'm hoping I'll have some momentum after the furniture market," said Coble, who plans to tour the showrooms this week. Watt will also visit market in a separate tour.

Coble takes a realistic outlook on what the caucus can accomplish on the job front in America.

"I'm afraid that the lost jobs are probably lost forever," he said. "I don't think we can regain the lost furniture jobs. I just hope we can forestall it and preclude subsequent losses from occurring."

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