|
Massachusetts mill town celebrates promises kept
Owner vowed to rebuild after fire, and he did
September 17, 1997
Web posted at: 10:11 p.m. EDT (0211 GMT)From Correspondent Christine Negroni
METHUEN, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Just before Christmas two years ago, much of Malden Mills in Methuen, Massachusetts, was consumed by fire, putting the jobs of 3,000 people in peril.
But Aaron Fuerstein, whose family has owned Malden for three generations, made a vow to his workers and their community. He promised that he would rebuild the plant, and he promised that, in the meantime, he would keep paying those workers who were idled by the fire.
He has kept both promises. This week, before a crowd of thousands, an enormous new production building was dedicated. Some 2,700 of the 3,000 people working at Malden when it burned are now back at work.
CNN's Christine Negroni reports.In the process, Fuerstein has become something of a folk hero, beloved of his workers and a poster boy for corporate responsibility.
He admits he's enjoyed the whirlwind of publicity that followed his good deed. He says his inspiration came from his strong Jewish faith -- and believes that most people long for the opportunity to do the right thing.
"I've learned there is great potential in all human beings," he says.
When Malden Mills moved to Methuen 40 years ago, it moved into a facility abandoned by another textile company. Many of the mills in this corner of Massachusetts had either closed down or moved to the South.
But the Fuersteins decided to stick with the Massachusetts work force. They made money against the odds with the production of two new fabrics, Polar Tec and Polar Fleece, that are made from recycled soda bottles.
That fits in with the company's emphasis on blending business with social responsibility.
"In all our plants, there's goodwill. There's determination. There's teamwork. There's hope. It's a healthy company," Fuerstein said.
Now that he has a soapbox, Fuerstein is using it to preach a sermon about social responsibility to the world at large -- to testify that doing the right thing can be good for more than just business.
Related stories:
- Mill owner will pay workers after fire - December 15, 1995
- Boiler blamed in textile mill fire - December 12, 1995
Related site:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser windowExternal sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
|
Sound off on our message boards You said it... |
|
© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.