Jobs to Move America Report Finds Low Wages, Safety Issues at Transit Seating Manufacturer
Business Wire•21/10/2026•08:00 ET
0
Key Highlights
- ➤Freedman median hourly wage $19.45, 13.8% below Chicago-area comparable production wages
- ➤81% of workers reported noticing workplace hazards during the preceding 12 months
- ➤77% struggled with utilities, 74% food, or 71% housing payments
- ➤LCI Industries and Patrick Industries merger faces extended U.S. DOJ review
- ➤Freedman acquired by LCI subsidiary Lippert Components in April 2025
Expert Statements
Marcos Feldman, JMA researcher and report author
“The report raises questions about the quality of jobs at a company supported by public contracts and tax incentives.”
Marcos Feldman, JMA researcher and report author
“We tend to support manufacturing because we think the sector provides good jobs and raises labor standards. But that is not what we found at Freedman.”
Jobs to Move America Report Finds Low Wages, Safety Issues at Transit Seating Manufacturer
Research questions job quality at Freedman by Lippert plant ahead of proposed merger
Get started
Create a free account to read the full story.