Delivered by Michael Sayers, USWA Local 2887 President, Representing Workers at World Kitchen Co. (Ecko Cookware Products), Massillon, Ohio; Before the U.S.–China Commission, Akron, Ohio

I am 75 years old. I’m dying, in fact tomorrow, I’ll be buried. For 75 years, I have put food on the table, paid bills, bought homes, helped young and old adults through college, and gave hope to many for retirement.

Now, even though I still make money and contribute a great deal to my community, I have been given a disease that is fatal. It’s a cancer that was born in Washington. The cure has yet to be found. Seems as though it’s easier to get sick and die, than to find a cure.

My name is Michael Sayers. I’m the president of Local 2887 at World Kitchen in Massillon, Oh. We make bakeware. I venture to say each one of you have at least some of our product line, cookie sheets, pie pans, cake pans, in your kitchens. Our plant is officially closed tomorrow on Oct. 1. Tell everyone that has become a part of a very large family—goodbye, and good luck.

You're 55 years old, five years from having 30 years on the job. Good luck.

You’ve worked here for 28 years, now you loose everything.

Good luck to the 25-year-old, you found a steady income with a goal to retire from there.

Good luck to all the small companies that supply us, who will loose out not only sales, but also personnel.

Good luck to the school districts in our area with the loss of tax revenue.

Good luck to our children. It doesn’t look promising.

But most of all, good luck to all of you on this panel.

Please help find the cure.

World Kitchen is only doing what they are forced to do, like all the other companies in our nation, outsource. Thanks for this opportunity to say something on behalf of my fellow workers and their families.