Levi Stauss & Co. will close 11 plants in four states and lay off 6,395 employees as part of an effort to scale back production amid declining demand for its jeans.

The world's largest brand-name apparel maker said the job cuts will slice 34 percent of its total manufacturing workforce in the United States and Canada."During the past few years, it has become obvious that we have more production capacity than we need to supply our U.S. denim market," said Bob Haas, the company's chairman and chief executive officer.

The privately-held company will spend $200 million in severance and other employee benefits. Workers affected by the job cuts will get eight months' notice and up to three weeks severance pay for every year of service.

The plants include one each in Fayetteville and Harrison, Ark.; Albuquerque and Roswell, N. M.; and Centerville, Tenn. A sewing plant and finishing center in Knoxville, Tenn., will be closed as well as four plants in Texas, one in San Angelo and three in El Paso.

In addition, the Levi Strauss Foundation plans to spend $8 million in grants to communities involved.

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The San Francisco-based company had $7.1 billion in sale in 1996. It owns and operates 32 apparel manufacturing plants and finishing centers in the United States and five in Canada.

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