I’ve read many posts on how sad it is that the Home Sewing Association has closed their doors after 80 years serving the sewing community due to losing a wrongful termination lawsuit in September of 2006. Many posts actually blame the plaintiff, as if she was the one that brought down the HSA. After reading the judgment I really have to believe otherwise.
Here is the judgment for your own water closet reading: HSA judgment
In case you’d like to hear a differing opinion then what is mostly written about, here ya go:
1) The HSA has an annual budget of $1.x million dollars. Executive V.P. Joan Carter Campbell made more than $100,000.00 per year in salary when she terminated Francine, who by the way, made a salary of a little more than $18,000 per year. Francine Pasaturo’s judgment was to receive from HSA $126,295.23 plus her legal expenses of $75,000. Instead of paying the judgment and legal fees the HSA made the decision to file bankruptcy and close the doors citing that they couldn’t absorb the cost. My thought: pleeze give me a break, they were paying their V.P. about what the settlement was for. Nobody won on that decision, way to go.
2) On Francine. I hope she is recovering from her ordeal with cancer and this lawsuit. I believe what she has done by bringing this lawsuit about is underscore just how contemptuous and entitled upper V.P’s and Managers can be towards their employees and to whom they serve (you, the customer). After reading about the actions of the V.P. I can’t help but consider her (the V.P.) to be the Leona Helmsly of the Sewing Industry.
This is the text from the letter received by Francine from Campbell:
“This is to inform you that your position as Receptionist/Secretary with the American Home Sewing & Craft Association has been eliminated due to lack of work.
Your actual last day of work with the association was January 31, 1996, at which time you were placed on an unpaid medical leave of absence, at your request. Your doctor has released you to return to work May 1, 1996, however, your job position at AHSCA no longer exists.
I am sorry to have to inform you of this action, but as we have been utilizing more technology and streamlining our operations, we have found we need fewer staff to carry on the business of the association.
Please feel free to use my name as a reference when you start to seek other employment.”
The letter was dated April 26th which meant she waited until the realization that Francine would be coming back to write it. Oh, and the best part is “feel free to use my name as a reference…”. The woman just stabbed her in the back and now she has the nerve to show some compassion that Francine can USE her name???
Remember the ‘Stupid Letter’ from the John Grisham book The Rainmaker? I just couldn’t help myself thinking about that scene from the book and insert my own vision of Leona (Campbell)…”…well, what are you stupid Francine? Of course we don’t want you back, we are doing just fine without you. I went through your desk and was terribly disappointed at what you left behind. I know you must be in terrible pain sweetie but we just simply can’t afford you any more. Ta, ta honey, oh, but please mention me when you look for work elsewhere, I’m well respected you know.”
Insult to injury that is for sure.
3) Looks like it was pretty good legal work on the plaintiffs side, we might use this as an opportunity to take notice of this contact. It also sounded like the plaintiff was willing to settle all the while and the HSA kept dragging this on. If you are upset, be upset with the HSA (more specifically Joan Carter Campbell) not Francine. I’m sure if anyone received the same treatment and letter that she did would have been equally dismayed. Francine stood up for herself and really just wanted her job back, or be considered for the open job that existed. (With a wave of Leona’s mighty hand she was dismissed without a thought.)
And the big one that I haven’t seen any news on…
5) Thank you for this opportunity to change this industry and make the sewing world a better place for both the employees, the industry associations/businesses and finally the customers that make it all happen! So much of the commentary I’ve read is negative, however I actually see this as an opportunity to change and get positive. The sewing industry forgot who they serve, especially the fashion sewing industry. I’m three months into my Sew For A Year challenge and I will express already that when it comes time to answer that question ‘is fashion sewing dead’, already I’ve had some very positive experiences…which I’ll post in a separate update. The question will then need to be asked, who will start a new association for the industry?
It sounds like there is an opportunity ripe for the taking.
Stumble It!
2 responses so far ↓
Mary Ann // April 7, 2008 at 5:20 pm |
Good commentary… as an older sewer I have not paid any attention to the association you have mentioned and am not real aware of the good it has done. I joined the American Sewing Guild a couple years ago for the first time in my life and do wish I had been more aware of it in my earlier years of sewing with a passion!
I have always been the only seamstress in a sea of non-sewers. That’s probably one reason I enjoyed spending so much time at the fabric store … I was surrounded by others with like interest. What would it take to start up this kind of an assoc. and how would you get people interested in it? Is it in direct competition with the ASG? Why would people want to join such an assoc.? Since I was never enticed to join something I am really wondering how people find out about these things, etc. Is it just those who become involved in sewing professionally? I find it interesting that I recently became a participant in the Gathering blog on Threads Magazine site. It seems that many of the “sewists” are involved in sewing professionally by either teaching or providing dressmaker services. It’s good though to read the thoughts of young sewers who want to sew, but are having a hard time finding classes or lessons to improve their limited skills.
Enjoy your web site, but do think more color and design would spark more interest!
stitchinstein // April 14, 2008 at 8:20 pm |
The HSA actually provided the seed money for the ASG. The Association served as the sewing industry’s trade organization. They collected data about the industry which was used professionally for businesses. They also provided a resource and education service for professionals in addition to aid, resources and programs that served 4-H and other groups. I’m sure I can provide more on what the organization did but as far as the greatest strength was the data needed for businesses to be successful. My interest was really more of finding out why they decided to quit and realizing it wasn’t about the industry as much as it was about giving the shaft to their former employee. It was a classic case of being procrastinators and reactive instead of being pro-active and solution finders. The industry needs to think ‘how can I influence and inspire the young sewer’ and not ‘hmm, what can we make with this crappy fabric’. I digress, however, I will post the highlights of what benefits an organization like this would offer and why people would want it to exist. Thanks for the comment!