With These Hands: The Story of an American Furniture Factory
In March 2007, unable to compete with cheaper offshore production, Hooker Furniture Company closed its plant in Martinsville, Virginia, after 83 years in operation. “With These Hands” follows the last load of kiln-dried wood down the assembly line as it is cut, honed, and assembled into fine furniture.
Along the way, employees at the factory share their perspectives on work, community, and survival in a country devastated by deindustrialization and outsourcing. Their pride in their work and their determination to survive affirm that, despite the current economic climate, we are a country of doers, and our workers are the match of any around the world.
With These Hands shows the impact of globalization's "race to the bottom" on skilled workers across America.
