Washington, DC - 12^th District Georgia Congressman John Barrow issued the following statement today in response to Jockey International's announcement that they will cut 203 jobs in Millen, Georgia, and outsource those jobs to Jamaica, Honduras, Costa Rica, and El Salvador:

 "It's outrageous to see that after 55 years, Jockey has decided to turn its back on Millen, Jenkins County, and eastern Georgia - leaving 203 hard working families to pick up the pieces.  Adding insult to injury, Jockey plans to outsource these jobs to Jamaica, Honduras, Costa Rica, and El Salvador, many of the countries included in the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).  

"This confirms my worst fears about CAFTA, a bill I voted against because I was concerned it would send even more American jobs overseas.  Now, just one year after CAFTA passed, Jockey has decided to sell out Georgia families and ship out 203 good paying jobs to Central America and the Caribbean.

"Last year, top executives from Jockey came to my office to lobby for CAFTA, looked me in the eye, and told me that a vote for CAFTA was a vote to protect jobs in Millen.  Now, the very same people whose jobs they claimed to be protecting will be out of work. 

"The most important thing we can do right now is come together and work together to help the employees, their families, and the entire community." 

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Contact: Harper Lawson, (202) 225-2823

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