BOSTON – Workers at Polartec have appealed to long-time partner Patagonia to buy its Lawrence, MA manufacturing site in a desperate plea to save jobs. The move comes after its California-based owner Ventura Inc. confirmed its intention to close the facility by the end of 2016.
In a new letter to Patagonia’s CEO, Rose Marcario, a coalition of ‘allies and experts’ has joined workers to ask Patagonia to take direct ownership of Polartec, saying such a move would secure environmental and quality standards, save a living piece of American labour history, and preserve 350 jobs.