According to a report on the Urbana-Champaign IndyMedia site there are increasing lay offs in the North American garment sector, as mor and more clothing is made in overseas sweatshops. Recently Levi Strauss Laid Off 3600 workers, and garments will not be imported from cheap labor companies, while Levi becomes a retailer and distributor, rather than a manufacturer. According to the report, "Another major plant layoff was announced this week, as a high profile clothing manufacturer ceases virtually all production of its own products. Levi Strauss announced in a press release that it will close six US factories and cut 3600 jobs this year, as part of a three-year old plan to--quote--"focus more on being a marketing and product-driven organization rather than a manufacturer," unquote. Many brand name corporations, including Nike, Reebok, and even Hewlett Packard, no longer manufacture the products bearing the corporate logo; instead their products are manufactured by contractors that have few ties to the brand name corporation. Calling the decision "painful but necessary", CEO Philip Marineau stated that the company had no choice but to fire its employees. In response, workers rights activists gathered in San Francisco and called for Marineau to resign as CEO. Speaking at the rally was Global Exchange co-founder Medea Benjamin, who charged that the former Pepsi Cola's exec only skill is cutting jobs. Nikki Bas, director of the Oakland-based coalition called Sweatshop Watch, said the trend toward U.S. apparel firms using foreign plants reflects a lack of concern for U.S. workers as well as comparably low-paid workers in other countries, many of whom are denied basic freedoms and prevented from organizing in unions. Levi currently has contracts with about 500 plants in 50 countries, and after closing six more US factories, it will operate only two US factories, both in Texas. < BR>