Jackson Free Press

Before this column takes on the big issues expected in the Senate this year, I want to address something all Mississippians should note. It's a lesson about corporate citizenship and corporate responsibility that our state should resolve to remember, particularly as we try to bring new jobs here.

Right before Christmas, the Oreck vacuum company announced it would close its plant in Long Beach. This 10-year-old plant was considered a success by the company, but the plant and its workers took a hard hit by Hurricane Katrina.

The Oreck company quickly rebounded and was hailed as a corporate hero for getting its plant up and running so shortly after the disaster. Basking in accolades, company officials cited their "responsibility" to their workers and families, and Oreck was heralded for restoring a steady wage and restarting production in a short time. A model good corporate citizen, it seemed, was clearly among us.

That's why it was surprising that this New Orleans-based company suddenly decided to move its facility inland, not in Louisiana or Mississippi, but to Tennessee, leaving more than 400 of those hurricane-victim workers, to whom the company earlier said it felt so obliged, without jobs.

Oreck then took a swipe at those Mississippi employees. CEO Tom Oreck, the son of David Oreck, founder of the company and star of the company's "Oreck challenge" television commercials, was quoted by a Tennessee newspaper as saying the Mississippi work force was unproductive.

To be fair, Tom Oreck now is disputing that quote. I don't know whether he said it or not, but I do know a couple of things cause me to question whether Oreck's actions meet the minimum threshold for good corporate citizenship and decision making that Mississippians should expect.

First, this company is going against the grain. Even given the possibility of hurricanes, other major manufacturers are choosing Mississippi and coastal states because of our excellent work force. Hurricanes aside, our workers build quality ships, aircraft, and complex electronic systems. Companies like Northrop Grumman and Rolls Royce Aerospace have chosen Mississippi, specifically the coast, and kept their commitments to Mississippi. Most Americans live on or near a coast line, and the number of residents and companies locating or relocating in the Gulf States is robust, despite threats of bad weather.

Second, and more troubling, in 1997 Oreck signed a 10-year tax exemption to locate in Long Beach. That exemption will expire at about the same time Oreck completely closes the Long Beach plant. A lot of Mississippians will have very legitimate questions about this timing, and I think the company should have made a genuine effort to address it.

As your Senator, I talk to many CEOs with the ultimate goal of getting them to bring jobs to our state. Sometimes we must put up tax incentives for companies to locate in Mississippi because competing states are doing the same.

But Mississippi's taxpayers and our city, county, state and federal officials should tuck away the Oreck example for future reference. Yes, we'll still have to fight for jobs, sometimes using a tool kit that includes tax incentives. Still, like a banker scrutinizing a loan applicant, we must assess these companies' financial health, demeanor and commitment to our state very carefully. I'm not saying anyone could have foreseen the Oreck situation. Nor am I saying this company makes bad products. I am saying Oreck could have handled this situation better and shown Mississippians at least as much commitment and loyalty as we've shown them.

I've often said that Mississippi is "open for business," and our seasoned U.S. Congressional delegation has proved willing and capable of helping businesses find ways to come to our state or remain here. Whether it's an insurance company or a vacuum cleaner maker, I don't take kindly to companies which aren't fair to Mississippians and hurt or demean our state, saying one thing and doing another. Mississippi's public officials, myself included, must resolve to remember the Oreck example when a company is bestowed help from the public vault. The next time a guy on television asks us to "take the Oreck challenge," we should remember the many challenges Oreck left on Mississippi's doorstep. (1/5/07)

Senator Lott welcomes any questions or comments about this column. Write to: U.S. Senator Trent Lott, 487 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 (Attn: Press Office)

Previous Comments

ID

90677

Comment

You won't see me buy an Oreck anytime soon! This is how you politely lay some smack down on someone! Good job Trent!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-01-05T16:18:55-06:00

ID

90678

Comment

Yeah, I like this column, too. Cheers, senator.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-01-05T16:21:07-06:00

ID

90679

Comment

I'll never buy one after this.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-01-05T16:40:38-06:00

ID

90680

Comment

Even if I had the fundage to buy one, I won't after this, either. (saracasm) More experienced call center employees out of work - yeah. Exactly what Mississippi needs. (/sarcasm)

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-01-05T16:43:08-06:00

ID

90681

Comment

Right on, Sen. Lott. Now that I know the facts, I agree that Oreck's departure was strategically timed to precisely coincide with the expiration of its 10-year tax exemption. Bravo Sen. Lott for telling the real story. There won't be an Oreck in my household's future...for sure.

Author

Kacy

Date

2007-01-05T18:09:55-06:00

ID

90682

Comment

You won't hear me saying this often, but: Well done, Senator Lott, well done. I won't be buying any Orecks anytime soon, either. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2007-01-05T18:31:53-06:00

ID

90683

Comment

Rainbow baby, rainbow.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-01-05T19:06:04-06:00

ID

90684

Comment

Notice nowhere in the editorial did Lott ask anyone to not purchase an Oreck. He has done a good job of stirring proper sentiment from those who it affects the most directly.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-01-05T20:44:32-06:00

ID

90685

Comment

I'm in........It's a Hoover for me...... Thanks Senator......

Author

ATLExile

Date

2007-01-05T21:18:05-06:00

ID

90686

Comment

My rainbow had gone to the great suck in the sky. We're the purple Dyson now.

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-01-05T22:01:35-06:00

ID

90687

Comment

Hey Emily, how does the Dyson perform? I am interested in purchasing one.

Author

Will Jemison

Date

2007-01-06T00:04:01-06:00

ID

90688

Comment

I bought a used rainbow with a warranty on it. Can't beat it. If you ever want to sell it, they tend to hold their resale value very well.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-01-06T00:19:32-06:00

ID

90689

Comment

Rooooomba...Rooooomba...

Author

GLB

Date

2007-01-06T02:59:10-06:00

ID

90690

Comment

I love my Dyson. Great for animal hair. I had one Rainbow I bought from ebay that I finally blew the engine. Then we had another Rainbow until we discovered the Dyson. Gave the Rainbow to a friend. I couldn't handle dealing with the water. Rainbow IS great, but messy. The Dyson just dropped the gunk straight to the garbage. The Rainbow would be dirty water to dump and it got to yucky for me. Both are good for dusting, cleaninn furniture and floorboards and of course just plain old vacuuming the carpet.

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-01-06T03:32:20-06:00

ID

90691

Comment

I just bought a Dyson. So far, it's awesome. Our 12+ year old Miele finally died. I'd have love to replaced it with another Miele, but it's just *wrong* to spend $1,000 on a vacuum cleaner. I did some online research, and found that they Dyson gets the best reviews, plus has a 5 year warranty. We have kids and multiple pets, so just any old thang isn't going to work for us. I didn't find much info on Orecks. The Hoovers got good ratings, but the one I looked at was 10 lbs heavier (20 lbs vs 30 lbs) than the Dyson I bought. The reviews on the Bissels were uniformly "It was great for 6 months, and then it died". The Dyson freaks me out because you can watch it sucking the dirt into the clear plastic dirt holder thingy, and it's just gross. But it seems well designed/user friendly. Also got good reviews for customer service.

Author

kate

Date

2007-01-06T09:34:36-06:00

ID

90692

Comment

Oh kate, I have an illness when it comes to dusting/vacuuming. I get a strange satisfaction with the contents of that plastic thing. It's like a clear pore strip. Good Lord the things I tell you folks. We've had the Dyson for over a year and no problems. It even cleaned all the gunked up lint in the laundry room.

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-01-06T12:23:38-06:00

ID

90693

Comment

I know you have an illness. its called an allergic reaction to work.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-01-06T13:43:01-06:00

ID

90694

Comment

I'm going to have to tell you to kiss my ass kingfish. And maybe get a life. I'm now sick of the harrassment thank you very much.

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-01-06T14:34:32-06:00

ID

90695

Comment

King, I don't know why you have this morbid fascination with Emily, but what's with the attitude? Are you saying that raising two kids is not work? If so, there are a number of people on this board who will rip your eyes out.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-01-06T14:43:56-06:00

ID

90696

Comment

This is starting to piss me off, too. I left this alone because it was so out-there that I assumed it must be some mutually agreed-upon thing between Fish and Emily, but evidently not, so enough already, Fish. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2007-01-06T15:11:42-06:00

ID

90697

Comment

We have an El Cheapo from wal mart. When it dies, we'll buy another. So far, it really sucks at the job. ;)

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-01-06T15:40:50-06:00

ID

90698

Comment

One of the employees who lost his Oreck job in Long Beach is my cousin, whose house was only a few blocks from the beach. :-( Merry Christmas, Oreck employees! *rolls eyes* I'm with y'all -- you couldn't pay me to buy an Oreck now. Best, Tim

Author

Tim Kynerd

Date

2007-01-06T17:20:08-06:00

ID

90699

Comment

Well, we actually are in the market for a new vacuum cleaner. I was already *not* going to buy an Oreck because of the plant closing, but my wife really wanted one- just like her moms'. This column (along with a google search of "Oreck vs. Dyson") finally convinced her otherwise- and we drove over to Lowe's to buy a Dyson... I was really ready to plunk down the $500, but when we actually saw those things, I changed my mind- they are the most "un-Mac-like", non-intuitive machines I have ever seen! On most models I couldn't even figure out how to make the handle release from its locked upright position! I never did figure out how to extend the hose part from the handle, etc. And all of those plastic pieces just looked cheap! Not to mention that on the model that we actually went there to buy, there were none in boxes- only floor models (which all showed signs of other frustrated shoppers at both Lowe's stores that we tried) were available... Anyway, we came home, joined "Consumer Reports Online", and will be going to Sears in the next couple of days to purchase a new Kenmore for $300 that beat the hell out of both the Dyson and the Oreck in the ratings...

Author

Rico

Date

2007-01-06T19:31:54-06:00

ID

90700

Comment

Iron, you're better off, and the environment's better off, if you can purchase stuff for the long haul, not as disposables. Rico, keep me posted on how your Kenmore holds up. My kids were using the Dyson today. I did have to look at the instructions to figure out a couple of things, but now it makes sense, and is actually pretty "Mac-like" to me. I've never had good luck with Consumer Reports recommendations, so I don't really use them anymore.

Author

kate

Date

2007-01-06T21:01:40-06:00

ID

90701

Comment

kate: I'd love to, but I can't afford a $500 dollar vacuum. That's way out of the ballpark.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-01-06T21:09:03-06:00

ID

90702

Comment

Iron, I hear you. It's a frustrating fact of life, that those that can afford a higher upfront cost actually pay less in a lifetime for some products, simply because the last longer, and the maintenance is less. If you can't afford it, you can't afford it. But those that *can* afford it need to get away from the "appliances are disposable" mentality, and buy stuff that *lasts*, instead of dumping appliance after appliance into landfills.

Author

kate

Date

2007-01-07T10:45:41-06:00

ID

90703

Comment

I don't like the canister type vacumn. Iv'e read nothing but bad about them (of course all f the negitive is from bag type manufacturers). The good ole fashioned type "A' bag is for me regardless. I also like the one that is strong enough to suck the chrome right off of a ........oh...I'm sorry....mind wandering....sorry.....so sorry....

Author

ATLExile

Date

2007-01-07T11:51:55-06:00