Underwear Workers Take It In The Shorts

Underwear maker Fruit of the Loom Inc. plans to cut its U.S. work force by 12 percent, eliminating 3,200 jobs, to streamline operations and boost profits.

The move, announced Monday, reflects mounting pressure on apparel manufacturers to produce merchandise for the increasingly cutthroat retail industry.

Chicago-based Fruit of the Loom said it will close six plants and reduce operations at two more by the end of the year. The plants are in Kentucky, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

The company would not identify the affected plants, saying workers should be notified first.