The Press Conference

The press conference at Harlow Foods is for twenty minutes, but it is nearly two hours. The director, Helen Brandt, says, “We close one of our three factories at the end of the year.” She is sorry. “Nobody loses a job without a fair offer,” she says.

A reporter asks, “Is this a new plan?” Helen says, “No. We talk about it from June.” She says, “We should tell the workers earlier.”

Another reporter asks, “How many families does this touch?” Helen says, “About two hundred workers. They can move to the other two factories.” “Why Marsh Road?” “It is the oldest, and it costs the most.”

The union man, Mark Doyle, stands up. “You do not listen to the workers!” he says. “Wait! Study the plan with us.” Helen does not give a date, but she says, “We meet next week.”

Helen leaves. Outside, the workers wait in silence. One man says, “I work here for twenty-two years. What do I tell my children?”