Hugo Boss stands by their decision to close Brooklyn plant

BROOKLYN, Ohio - Hugo Boss is standing by their decision to close their Brooklyn facility, insisting that the plant is not globally competitive.

A statement issued by the company Friday stated, "Hugo Boss tried in vain to find ways to make it (the plant) globally competitive and when that effort failed, we acted in the best interests of shareholders and customers by deciding to close the facility."

The company has met with city and state officials, as well as the Union representing its maintenance workers in order to provide severance packages and other transitional assistance to the workers affected by the April closure.

The Union which represents the facility’s 300 production workers rejected the company’s offer to talk about similar issues.

The company said they will continue to pay wages until April 27, 2010, even if production halts prior to that date. The company said they also intend to offer outplacement and professional reorientation training for all employees to smooth their transition.

The workers of Hugo Boss are still hoping that the company will change their mind about closing the facility. So is the city of Brooklyn, which stands to lose $120,000 in income taxes if the company moves.