Article: Union probes buy of clothing firm; JH Collectibles OPERATIONS: 33 retail stores in the United States; 33 concessions in stores in the United Kingdom. OWNERS: A division of Ross Enterprises Inc. The holding company, owned by the Ross family in Milwaukee, also manages five shopping centers in the Milwaukee area and has interests in the Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurant chain, office buildings, apartment complexes and ALES, a Chicago airborne law enforcement service. SALES: About $103 million in 1995. EMPLOYEES: 800 people, 400 at its Milwaukee headquarters. MANUFACTURING: Mostly by 4,000 contract workers in other countries. HISTORY: Founded as Junior House in 1944 by William Feldstein and a partner, Sol Rosenberg. Feldstein and a son-in-law, the late Kenneth Ross, bought out Rosenberg's interest. Kenneth Ross' son, Bruce, now heads Ross Enterprises.

The labor union that represents workers at JH Collectibles has hired a Washington, D.C., investment banking firm to help determine whether employees could buy the company.

JH Collectibles filed Oct. 4 for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Managers said the intent was to find a buyer who would continue to operate the company.

Noel Beasley, international vice president and manager of the Midwest regional joint board for the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, said the union's interest in an employee buyout was "as serious an option as any other." UNITE is concerned that the 1,600 workers at JH plants and suppliers around the country that ...

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