I also like to buy American, and to shop at local stores instead of chains, but seems like those days are drawing to a close. If Home Depot, Lowes or WalMart doesn't put them out of business, internet shopping will.
I wasn't familiar with Union Tools before, but a little Googling makes me think they aren't what they used to be: http://www.boilermakers.org/node/219
I wasn't familiar with Union Tools before, but a little Googling makes me think they aren't what they used to be: http://www.boilermakers.org/node/219
Union Tools closes Frankfort, N.Y., plant
Seventy-five Local 1916 members lose jobs
A 100-YEAR-OLD lawn and garden tool-making operation in Frankfort, N.Y., shut its doors permanently December 1, throwing 75 Boilermakers from Local 1916 out of work. Union Tools had produced shovels, hoes, and forks, under brand names like Razor-Back and UnionPro. In April 2006, Ames True Temper purchased Union Tools. It subsequently shut down the Frankfort plant and folded the operation into its more modern U.S. manufacturing facilities.
Meanwhile, the union work force received pressure from another source —cheap labor. Bernier said the company began contracting out tool production to China. “How do you compete with 85 cents an hour?” Bernier asked.