GM hits the brakes

Jackson, having lived in Madison, I can tell you why I do not live there anymore. No parking, Very poor snow removal. 300 people getting arrested at a block party. Having to endure the smell of hippies that don't bathe. People relieving themselves in my front yard on numerous occasions. Being hassled by every left wing group of losers with their idiotic agenda pounding on my door looking for a signature. Putting up with the guy next door playing his bongo drums while he gets stoned and thinks its a higher art form. Being lectured by neighbors about my vehicle of choice, and the general widespread intolerance in that narrow-minded town. You like it so much? You go and live their. Oh, and your references to a fat pig millionaire that makes his money telling half truths, pandering to idiots,and victimizing people in unfortunate situations is just pathetic. Maybe you and Michael Moore can go to Venezuela and crawl in bed with Hugo Chavez. I'm sure you are all of the same mind.

Jackson,

You said "Sorry man people have to go to Madison, and Rockford to find good things". Wow, you are more of a Neanderthal than I thought. What good things are in Madison or Rockford? You have to go to Chicago to find anything decent. Of course, that is why I got the hell out of dodge instead of continuing to live there and just whine. The energy you use whining about GM and Janesville could be used to study so you can get a degree and get out of the town you loathe. And don’t use the excuse that you are not bright enough for a degree. Every big city needs ditch diggers too!

There is no joy here. I am just sick of the Tax payer pick up the tab for these suckers. When you drive down the local street take a look at how many Asian cars of high value are here.I know you must wear ear plugs, and blinders when you ever leave Janesville, and speak of GM. I beat if you took a poll in this town, of what people think of GM works you would be shocked.

Don't feed the troll. Ignore them and they go away.

Come on folks we all know a Jackson...
they are the ones who stand around AFTER something happens and then become the town cryer...
I told you, I told you, I told you.
They way that you take joy in the fact that so many lives will be affected shows your true face.

Jackson - When you say 'they' say GM and lazy workers... who are you refering to as 'they' or are you just saying you call them lazy workers and such?

Sorry man I did not know you do not like the truth. I am speaking about serious issues, and the impressions people from other areas feel about GM. When you say Janesville they do not say KKK, four ward, downtown is dead, BUT THEY SAY GM, AND LAZY WORKERS. If you do not believe me crawl out from under that rock.

To Jackson, et al: Do you know what the definition of a Troll is, as it pertains to forum posts? It is "To deliberately post derogatory or inflammatory comments to a community forum, chat room, newsgroup and/or a blog in order to bait other users into responding."
It is easily seen when repeated, similar, derogatory, inflaming comments are posted about a single group of people (“Janesville has been seen with a dark image from GM, and there people") over and over again without one bit of useful dialogue. Trolling is widely believed to be associated with masculinity issues.

Sorry man people have to go to Madison, and Rockford to find good things. Why? Because Janesville has been seen with a dark image from GM, and there people. All that will build here are 5 new taco stands, and burger worlds. There is no fine dining, or even new stores in the malls.Remember two years ago the City told residents that Lowes was coming to town to employ 1000 works over two years. They came hired 30 found the labor pool sucked, and decided on Rockford. Beloit has more going for it than Janesville.

With all the new about GM I hope all of you stop and think. We have heard your voices on buying American and support American workers. Well that works locally also. The next time your out looking for a product or service remember think local not chain. Hard working friends and family need it. Dont throw the stone when you eat at chains, shop at chains and drive to madison/ Rockford for services, Its all right here janesville support our own

I remember waiting in lines at the gas pump in November 2001. Talk then was that we were going to run out of oil/gas, etc. and to stock up NOW. Kind of a moot point as most people only buy enough to fill their tank and maybe a 5 gallon gas can for lawnmowers...

But I do think it was DEFINITELY on the minds of consumers, but the government tried (successfully, I might add) to convince us that the economy was in NO DANGER....

Zoom:

Many predicted gas prices would be this high, if not higher. GM, as well as the other American car makers, along with the car buying public, put our collective head in the sand (pun intended) an wished it would all go away and gas would be $1.35 again. The oil co. new it was going up, government new it was going up, we knew it was going up, and yet many are shocked that no one is buying big vehicles they could barely afford in the first place. Which then leads us to the question, are we Americans, or are we Consumers.... As an American, I am more than my pocketbook or credit score, yet that is what gets hammered into us...buy, buy buy.

sbm,
Janesville is no longer dependant on GM, which at one time employed over 5000 people, not including suppliers. Except for the most recent housing debacle, Janesville has been steadily expanding for years, even as GM has been reducing their workforce here. Mercy health systems is now janesvilles largest employer.

I can't fault the city for investing in GM. If the city didn't build that road, you would be complaining that the city hasn't done enough to keep jobs here. The city is in a no win situation. This most current downturn has more to do with the type of vehicle GM makes in Janesville than anything else. Could anyone have predicted 5 years ago that we would be approaching $4 gas this summer?

Hey unknown you write what GM has brought here.

SSI was here for making balls for Parker Pen, the guy who started SSI worked for the Parkers.
Now I believe SSI make speed sensors for HD, and pressure switches for various apps.

Lear Seat only started because the Unoin allow them to farm out.

Janesville here are the choice?

1. Be like Flint MI.

2. Be like Madison.

It is a clear path. You only have weeks to decide.

I can't say I always agree with Jackson however on this point I do. The fact is we have tended to rely heavily on individual companies rather than making sure that this area has a strong economic foundation. Diversification of the job market is the only chance we have at surviving downturns like this. GM has steadily been reducing it's employee count over the years and yet rather than invest in attracting new businesses, a new road was built to ease access to GM! Well that seems to be paying off rather nicely doesn't it. The local news is filled with every move that GM is making and how bad it is for the local economy and residents, not everyone is tied to GM but there is a greater issue and that is ALL of the business that are closing their doors or cutting their shifts. With all the focus on GM there's nothing left to offer these other companies. There is talk about how well Beloit has done since Beloit Corp closed but making the old building look pretty and cleaning up the river area has not put all those people back to work in comparable positions. The average factory worker in this county not at GM is probably making half what the folks at GM are making - if they didn't see this coming over the years as GM has reduced their employees and prepare themselves for what was clearly coming that is their fault. They certainly had the financial resources to secure their future whether by cutting back, saving or getting an education that would give them options when the inevitable happened. For those making $10-15/hour and working multiple jobs to make ends meet, what are their options to do the same? Don't get me wrong, I feel for the GM employees about to be out of a job but it is time to look at the economic base as a whole and bring in companies that are diverse to make sure we don't end up here again. Even if GM turns around and brings back this latest round of lay offs, how long will it last and how many in the community will truly benefit from it? Can you name one company in Dane county that could cripple the economy by following in GM's path, I can't because it's a diverse market and they are not dependent on one company like we continue to be.

I don't say this very often, but Jackson, you're an idiot.

Your comments here just show ignorance and hatred of GM. That's ok, but please, for the sake of common sense...please stop...

I wish there was a way to place a question on the next election form for the area people which one
A. do you want area to invest 70% of tax comps to GM that only benefits a few, and leave a large carbon foot print, and dark image on Janeville.
or
B.do you want to invest in the future searching out green companies, bio tech, and high tech employer that will present a future for your children, and the area.

I would B for the future

Hey Janckson i hope you relize how much Janesville has benifited by haveing GM here.Alot of jobs have been created here an gm has brought ne compaies to Janesville like LSI lear an SSI.an your the type of preson i was talikng about being harassing an rude.Because Janesville an the suronding communities has one of the best work force ive ever seen in a long time.An ive seen people here keep jobs here a long time.So i hope no one will take Jackson serious.Brecause people in Janesville are not lazy an we take pride in our comunity.

As a recent layoff from SSI i know that times can get rough an somtimes people like seeabee an a few others.Tend to critize an harass others for trying to contribute an be understanding during these hard times. I say read the rules befor you HARASS anyone it is right in the rules above the comment box.It States clearly not to make harassing comments. An everyone has the right to say what is on there mind weather or not you agree with it thats what the comment page is about.An no one should be critized for what they have to say. An thats all i got to say about that.Now to those who do care about the situation.My heart goes out to those who are about to lose ther Job not just at GM but SSI LSI an Lear.Because this will make times tough for everyone who is trying to make it.And i am curently working with the nice people at the job center to get another job.It breaks my heart that this has happend.it is bad for the town an bad for Janesville Economy.I hope an pray that this change wont last an is only tempary.An that people in Janesville can keep there cool during this dificult time.And i am sure there will be other companies that will be effected by the layoffs at gm.An i hope we can get everyone being laidoff working as soon as posible cause i pray for that every night.An i hate seing people lose there jobs during these hard times

wingnut,
Good points, but remember that GM employees at least can take a buyout. In most cases that buyout would either allow them to retire if they are old enough, or pay off their cars (or even a mortgage?) if they are not near retirement age and must look for another job.

The real tragedy will be the laid off suppliers, along with the other companies sbm_citizen mentioned. The best the suppliers will get is extended unemployment.

ok, now here comes a new angle to this discussion... what about the GM workers(or Lear, LSI, and the assorted subsidiaries affected by this news) who have no High School diploma? One cannot expect a man or woman to go from assembling vehicles or vehicle components for a pretty good wage to(and this is no slight against those that work there) flipping burgers at McDonalds? especially when one has a house and car payment to worry about. Not to mention gas and groceries which also are well above the level they were this time last year. Does GM or the other companies affected by this have anything in place to help out the workers that do not have a H.S. diploma? I am just curious to know if they are going to leave them twisting in the wind, or give them a helping hand to continue education in the goal of getting a decent paying job.
and on a side note, i just read that Ogden in Albany is closing so they can send the jobs in a reorganizing effort to Tennessee. wonder how long the new Ethanol plant in Evansville will last, with the way things are going.
And as far as the post by whocares, which included this little tidbit-There is press lately that GM is eager to get the Chevy Volt into production as quickly as possible in China where a fuel efficient car is the only thing that can compete in China. But when it's ready for production in China, it's also ready for production in the US. And what better place to build it than Janesville, where good workers are otherwise going to waste.- I hope to god you are right! gotta do what we can to try and compete with the Japanese nameplates, namely putting out more of these types of vehicles instead of more V8's!

I feel horrible for those employeed by GM and going through this tough time, And wish you the best of luck. And it sad that its having such a rippling effect on its distributing companies. But I honestly have to say if the plant it self has to leave then good.
When times weren't so hard GM has always looked out for it self. They have done a few things here and there for the community. But what about those in need of a job? Its my understanding the only way for opportunity is if you yourself is close to someone in the plant, just to get the application, and then you might be hired as summer help ,and then maybe 5 years down the raod be employeed fulltime.
This is the kind of action that got GM where it is today.
Those of you leaving GM will understand that when you take the buyout. And have to cut your wages in half pushing the dirty work just to make ends meet. It sucks. It would stink even more if you applied at mcdonalds at a time like this and they turned you away because you need to get app through your stepbrother who got it through his aunt who got it from her dad.
I pray more equal opportunity employers seek Janesville out.. in place of General Motors so those of you, who felt the effects of GM's loss will have a job else where paying but not limited to $6.15 an hour.
AMEN

dirksteel - efficiency is likely not tied to attendance as this would be hard to correlate. Attendence is also influenced by seniority. Janesville has a higher seniority than Arlington due to the age of the facility. With higher seniority, comes more time off due to accrual. This would require more coverage because of that. That would not be fair to compare the two facilities because of that factor. The article states efficiency and quality which means just that. What factors they were able to judge based on model mix and content is beyond me, so I think it is hard to compare the two. I believe it is because of the competition of having a Toyota Truck factory also in Texas. It would be a moral victory for Toyota in that region if GM had to give in by cutting a shift due to sales. Not fair to Janesville folks, but reality at most.

as I stated previously, anyone who lives in/around Janesville and thinks they are not impacted (either benefiting from good years or negative effects in bad years)is sadly mistaken.

Housing markets, and virtually every single purchase and living expense comes from the median income of the locality.

It is in everyone's best interests to try to assist and make an attempt to bear one another's burdens to the best of our ability.

I think it is very sad when I hear people celebrating in their neighbor's loss.

“Jackson” has been spewing this made up nonsense all over several of those blog and story comment areas-about the “dark” reputation GM Janesville and its workers have given the area. But what he doesn’t say is that he was summer help that could not get through one night at the plant. Come clean, Jackson. Do something to be proud of.

momof5 - I think diamond was referring to an obituary that was in Wednesday's paper for "Popcorn Joe" (http://www.gazettextra.com/obits/2008/ap......). Everyone at GM knew Popcorn Joe, and he will be sorely missed.

I'm guessing that this is what she was referring to.....

I used to get popcorn from him... :(

Who wouldn't like to be making the money GM workers make? There is nothing wrong with making more money, IF you earn it. The problem is that everything keeps going up in price, but not the wages. We should not fault GM workers for making a decent wage IF they deserve it. If I was able to make that kind of money, then maybe I could keep up with my bills, gasoline, food, healthcare, etc.

To Jackson:
I hope you are not referring that all people who work at GM are lazy. There are some that work really hard for the money they earn. But, if you are reffering to the ones that are always on comp so they can get paid to do nothing, then I agree. GM should be able to cut out the lazy workers and keep the good ones.

It's really great to see that GM is the ONLY business in Rock County! With all the debate about people at GM getting laid off and continuing to bring home most of their pay, with the state stepping in with all this "extra" for them - training, extended unemployment and yet the focus is on how poorly these people are being treated. Yes it's going to be a harsh reality check to see that the rest of this area doesn't make nearly what they do...NEWSFLASH! But where is the concern for all of the employees at other local companies that are or are about to be out of work?? United Industries is moving and my stepdad who has been there for 20+ years can't even look for a new job because if he leaves before they close the doors he is SOL on everything he has worked for. How about Alcoa - also UAW, they laid off 1/2 their shop since last fall and haven't work a full week in months - how much help do you think all their $11/hour workers have been recieving? How about the "lucky" ones that are still there but regularly "getting" 4-day weeks, nicely arranged to avoid unemployment eligibility. Oh wait, the company is promising to "give" them a full week off in May so they can actually get unemployment and not have to use all their vacation for this - IF it works for their schedule!
This is a much larger problem than just GM and the reality is the GM employees are better off than the vast majority of the local workers who are losing their jobs. Personally I am working on my masters in hopes that I can find a job in Rock county - not for a big raise, no I would just like to not have to drive an hour to make a decent wage. It is ridiculous to me that the local world revolves around GM, stop giving this company the power to determine the ecomony in OUR area. How many top GM people do think live in Rock cty? They don't care what they are doing to the community so rather than whine at their feet, stand together as a community and make sure that in the future the local economy cannot not be ruined by a Beloit Corp, Parker Pen or GM.

Jackson, do you have any idea how much GM has improved on their "carbon footprint" in the last 10 years? I'm sure not. There is a standard out there called ISO-14001 that they adhere very strictly to. They may actually be the greenest company in Rock County. Thanks for coming to this forum and spewing a lot of hate, (read other posts from other articles.) You can keep your liberal rants in Madison.

My apologies to diamondback if I referred to you in the incorrect gender -- I meant to put he/she in my previous post and missed that. Sorry!

momof5 - I think diamond was referring to an obituary that was in Wednesday's paper for "Popcorn Joe" (http://www.gazettextra.com/obits/2008/ap...). Everyone at GM knew Popcorn Joe, and he will be sorely missed.

I'm guessing that this is what she was referring to.....

Hey Jackson--do you live in Madison?

I can not wait for the rummage sales, and I bet the Janesville Gazette can not either! It will be called the GM workers White Elephant Sale. It will start in two years when the money dries up, and I am still working in Madison for $24 + for a green company.

I believe the best thing for the area is to let GM pass by the side. Janesville needs to invest in new employers, and get away from the carbon foot print GM makes on our towns. Janesville should look to invest in bring green companies to Janesville. GM, and there works leave a bad image on Janesville as lazy.

whocares: good point.

There's entirely too much pessimism being posted. There's still plenty of room for some optimism. 1) It's only a layoff of one shift - it's not a permanent elimination of one or both shifts. 2) If you're GM and you have to shut down production of vehicles consumers aren't buying, what better place to build brand new, market pleasing models than the out-of-work plants. 3) There is press lately that GM is eager to get the Chevy Volt into production as quickly as possible in China where a fuel efficient car is the only thing that can compete in China. But when it's ready for production in China, it's also ready for production in the US. And what better place to build it than Janesville, where good workers are otherwise going to waste. (In this economy an expensive new plant is not a good idea.) But of course GM Janesville, both management and labor, are way ahead of me on this. And the gov is probably doing the best he can to move this forward.
...
With no second and third shifts working, there's plenty of opportunity to do some plant upgrades for a new model - at least any work that can be done along side the existing line.
...
Think up. Feel the electricity in the air!

I am all for throwing TACT right out the window and REALLY debate the issues!!!!

OK

zoom--this thread here is pretty tactful...I posted that comment on 2 or 3 different threads re: GM's cuts.

diamond--I love popcorn (lol)! What news did you hear last night? GM related?

I can understand the emotions, but who is rejoicing? I read through all the posts again. Only two people said that there are cushy jobs at GM, or that they don't feel sorry for GM workers, or that Janesville will survive the loss of jobs. While they may not be your opinions, they are just that...opinions. The purpose of this blog is discussion. Asking people not to post is silly.

momof5-Well said !!! After hearing more SAD news last night...I will NEVER ! NEVER ! SMELL,TASTE OR SEE A BAG OF POPCORN AGAIN AND LOOK AT IT THE SAME !!!!!!!!!!!

dirksteel:

While I do agree that productivity and attendance go hand in hand and have been known to plague the Janesville plant, please read the link below. Oshawa's plant was one of, if not the most productive plants in GM's fleet of plants. Didn't save them, did it? I suspect there will be MORE of these types of announcements industry wide within the next year. http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/...

Does it matter how much an employee gets paid? Seriously. If Burger King was announcing they were closing all of their Rock County locations, people would be on these threads berating them for not being smarter and going to school so they didn't have to "flip burgers" for a living. Bottom line is NO ONE should EVER be rejoicing when someone else has lost their job....regardless if they make $28/hour and pay minimal health insurance premiums or if they make $8/hour and have no health insurance. Lord help those out there who think they have job security and something like this could never happen to them.....unless you are a mortitian, there is no such thing as job security! And, to those who say GM will not make or break Janesville...tell that to Beloit and those who worked for Beloit Corp. GM may not matter to you, but it matters to the 1500+ UAW workers who will be without a job July 14th, if not sooner. Have some compassion and if you can't...then just zip it.

PLEASE STOP !!! NO MORE OF THIS GM ,THAT GM !!!DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS CHANGING LIFES.THE ONLY ONES THAT WILL MAKE OUT ON THIS IS THE BARS(people will drink away their jobs,families,lives)THE POLICE(ALL THE CALLS ON FAMILY ISSUSE)THE LAWYERS(DIVORCES,FORECLOSURES,BANK REPOSSESS ).AND PLEASE LETS NOT FORGET THE UNDERTAKERS.SOME HAVE ALREADY STARTED FOR FAMILIES... PLEASE JUST SHOW SOME UNDERSTANDING !!!THESE ARE HUMANS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT !!!!

Seabee you should be worried about where the new jobs will come from rather than what people have to say or how they spell must burn you up to live in a town like this.so if you cant read anyones coment the goe on to the next i dont presonal care if people abrivate there more worried about jobs than spelling right now!!!

seabee: i think u should stop critisizing everyone and do something productive with urself. If u cant or dont understand the posts with the spelling, abreviating,shorthand or whatever then simply dont read them or comment on them either.

Here is my source for the previous comment I made...Complete with author and source...Note paragraph 6...Efficiency would include productivity and attendance.

................................................

General Motors plant in Arlington to lay off second shift next week

11:42 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 29, 2008

By TERRY BOX / The Dallas Morning News
tbox@dallasnews.com

The second shift of workers at the General Motors Assembly Plant in Arlington will be laid off next week as demand for full-size SUVs remains weak.

Wendi Sabo, plant spokeswoman, said the layoff is also related to a two-month strike by American Axle, a GM supplier. The Arlington plant is coming off a three-week shutdown and consequently has a small supply of axles on hand.

On Monday, the plant's first shift will report to work at 6 a.m. as usual.

The second shift will be laid off the entire week, affecting about half of the plant's 2,400 hourly workers. Second-shift workers will receive 95 percent of their base pay during the layoff.

GM also announced Monday that it is indefinitely suspending the second shift at its full-size SUV plant Janesville, Wis., which will affect up to 1,000 workers.

The plant builds the same general mix of full-size SUVs that Arlington does, but the Arlington plant is ranked higher in efficiency and quality.

If demand for full-size SUVs continues to drop, workers at both plants expect GM to ultimately consolidate all SUV production at one plant – a possibility that officials have not commented on.

"We're happy we have what we've got," said Enrique "JR" Flores Jr., president of UAW Local 276, which represents hourly workers at the Arlington plant.

"We're also saddened about what happened at Janesville. But we understand what is happening out there."

There are stories in the Dallas/Fort Worth area that say the decision to shut down the second shift at Janesville came down to productivity, quality and attendance!

Arlington beat Janesville in all 3 areas...Thus, Janesville is shut down and Arlington's 2nd shift will only be laid off one week.

To quote that famous presidential candidacy killer, Jeremiah Wright, Janesville's "Chickens have come home to roost!"

Apparently you have nobody else to blame but yourselves.

Instead of President Bush trying to push for more refineries we should all look at the alternative of salt water fuel. Read the article at http://www.saltwaterburns.com/. very interesting!

Does anyone know if the Gazette offers an "ignore" option on its forums?

GM can't "fudge" their finacials. Not only would their accounting firm risk major felony charges, but all credibility on Wall Street would be lost in the company. All GM's financials are full disclosed, and viewable to the public; as are any publicly traded companies. The story that some may be referring to was GM's Q4 2007 report, when an accounting error was made, in they did not figure in the pension compensation numbers correctly. The error was corrected; and GM stock was consequently pummeled on Wall street.

Right now GM is heavily in the red, and operating at a loss. Hopefully things will turn around for them for the sake US auto workers, and the many people in this community who work for GM or companies affiliated with them.

Purr, I honestly try not to, but with people posting their uninformed and poorly thought out theories and the borderline near-illiteracy, I get steamed at thinking of all the resources our society has wasted in the education of these creatins, judging by the results.

I wish they had a quote feature on this board..

lol Seebee...Ol' Purr is limping with a kink in her tail. I thought my post yesterday was fairly tame then came back to find I'd been accused of disrecting my parents in the 1950s and not having sympathy for sick lil' nippers...

Not on the GM topic, but a question to the more seasoned posters. After you post, do you ignore the reply comments made by people lacking in reading comprehension skills and those who make ridiculous leaps in logic?

I will definitely wait a few days before stirring up another can of worms...maybe a comment on spelling and the correct usage of their/there/they're...to/too/two...(evil cackle) ;p

Great post purrmaid....

Wow purrmaid, when you throw the gauntlet down, you REALLY throw it down. I commend you.

Ms_Sassy_Wi - LOL...I cast my vote for your mom. : )

Cocktail828 - '..teacher with a master's degree does make more if they maximize their degree and become a full time professor.'
Thank you for emphasizing my point. It shouldn't take "maximizing a Masters Degree and becoming a full professor" to earn more than a line worker when you've already got a Masters Degree.

Mr.Stacey T - '...let me guess your dad who worked there had a cushy job in the office'
Your "guess" is incorrect. He worked the line until he retired.

Wingnut721 - 'people like Purrmaid obviously have never worked in a factory type setting'
Worked at GM? No, just dad and my brother (who's taking the package..last day is in June). I have worked an assembly line elsewhere though. Definitely hit home that obtaining some marketable skills would be a bright thing to do!

Diamondback - 'not sure that her mother had to have a masters degree to teach in the 50's
Nothing in my post suggests a Masters degree was needed in the '50s. It was something you obtained through the years at your own considerable expense if you wanted to move up the pay scale.
- 'It's to bad she doesn't respect the job/work her father did in the 50's'
Both parents were respected, particularly my mother who went back to work six days after giving birth to my brother because GM was on strike and no money was coming in. I commend them for their tenacity.

Jennifer096 - 'IF I should lose my job @ GM, will you tell my children when they get sick and can't go to the doctor, why you don't have any sympathy?'
Sympathy for the kids? Yes, and not just because they are sick. However, I have no sympathy for dellusional parents thinking they are OWED a life-long job with premium health care benefits, mandatory mental health days, vacation time, numerous sick days, major dental and vision care, a labor union that will help them keep their job despite known drug use, fighting, employee theft, etc., not to mention some mighty fine discounts on vehicles. Sympathy?

Barrack Obama, where are you now?

For the record GM is not the only Company to go to such extremes to try and save their company. With times being what they are and have been for the past few years the Janesville GM plant is lucky that it has not been shut down/doors closed like a few other GM plants that were not quite so lucky.
I worked for another local company for 21 years when they closed our doors but because we were not a large company like GM the State did not jump in and offer us extended unemployment benefits or anything else for that matter. Also, I was making $32. per when we closed but I can tell you at the age of 53 I would jump at a chance to start a job at $14. per hour. But more and more jobs are being lost due to the economy.

You do not have to be an accountant to know the basics of a business. MORE MONEY MUST GO IN THAN WHAT IS PAID OUT. BE THAT WAGES,BENEFITS OR ANY OTHER EXPENIENCES.

ms_sassy_wi: amen sister!

btw: anyone who lives in/around Janesville and thinks they are not impacted (either benefiting from good years or negative effects in bad years)is sadly mistaken.

Housing markets, and virtually every single purchase and living expense comes from the median income of the locality.

It is in everyone's best interests to try to assist and make an attempt to bear one another's burdens to the best of our ability.

I think it is very sad when I hear people celebrating in their neighbor's loss.

cocktail848,

I'm not talking about tech schools cocktail.. I'm talking 4 year schools like UW Madison and the like... Sure, you can teach at a D3 school like UW-W and have a masters but try getting tenure.. I didn't say all 4 year schools want you to have a PH.D i said about 90 per cent.

Long_time_gone wrote: "Perhaps we keep the plant, and both shifts, working by slapping camo/sand paint on those SUVs and shipping them to Iraq."
.
My mother suggests we slap lead paint on them and send them to China.

Both very interesting alternatives...

lol

sure seems to be people on here again that have all the answers and aren't applying them to their own everyday lives. Anyone know what the topic is again? Rice? Spelling? Oh, yeah, that's right....it's about GM!

Zoom-THINK....OUTSIDE......THE .....BOX.... I'm sure the gov. just hasn't released the information yet.U.S Department of Labor I'm sure will give WI. a grant to help the workers.And by the way the rice issuse goes "OUTSIDE of JANESVILLES CITY LIMITS" Think outside the box :)I sure can make myself laugh !

dt32855, I cant say how much the union costs G.M. per year, but I can tell You that union dues are equal to two hours pay per month, quite costly, and its seems lately money not well spent.

Seabee- Yes I do get what you are saying.... I'm 59 years old and at times I don't get some of the new language and all the letters that are used in texting(LOL)I have A son that has problems with spelling etc...It's not because he hasn't/doesn't try !! Have a little more tolerance and understanding it will take you a long way in the BIG PICTURE OF LIFE !!!

Lear may get the 2 years of schooling. However, my understanding is that will be state funded and not by the UAW/Lear. My understanding is also that this is under an "umbrella" because lost jobs at Lear were due to outsourcing either within the last year or 2 years, and the cut-off is January of 2009 to be "covered" under this umbrella.

I am pretty sure Lear (and many of the suppliers) will only get regular unemployment. This is not including any severance package that may be offered. GM gets "subpay" in addition to their unemployment benefits during July shutdown or any other time they are "laid off." Lear never has....and from the sounds of it, never will.

RMaN4,

Where are you getting your stats that 90% of colleges make you have a PHD to become a full time prof? There are a lot of technical schools and D3 colleges that let individuals with Master's degrees be full time profs.

Diamond, only the uneducated rubes feel that way, which is fine because their opinions of me carry no weight whatsoever. no wut i meen dewd?????

NOW what about the workers with 30 plus years get out and let some of the ones with dependents and with the need for a job keep it. But then again greed seems to out weigh the the right thing and Yes i understand they have bills and obligations but after 30 plus yaers they should have a nest egg to hold them over with the offers pending at the plant. Sometimes with that income level some tend to live above their means and build bills and well some have to have the income with the costs now days but we have all had the crunch hit us with the city of Janesville based on GM wage and now some of them will feel it Dont get me wrong they work hard for their money and the last few years have been hard work as to more work on each job station. But If you have your 30 plus years in do the right thing step out and open the door so the ones that need to get to 30 years can!!!!!!!!

diamond,
This article says Lear employees will only get normal unemployment. Where do you get your misinformation from?

http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/apr...

SUPER~
You are right about those people. The people who ignore the new rules of the info. age will be those people breaking their backs to try and make a living. This isn't a knock on anyone either. It's what people have learned to do their whole lives. The key word here is "CHANGE". There are those who will never humble themselves to learn new things and there are those who want more out of life and want to move into the future and will humble themselves to learn new info. It's as simple as that. In the info. age, there will be 3 kinds of people. Those who choose to do business through the info. age, those who choose to work for the manufacturers who supply the network based business systems, and those who will simply buy from those businesses. The wealth available in this world today isn't found where people have been able to create over the past 100 years. It's in another sector of business. Problem is, people don't know where to look for it. That's why our economy is taking such a massive dump. The greed in corporate America is catching up with this country and the world in full force these days. Because the individual has access to the world behind the keyboard of a computer, the wealth that these corps. once owned, is now being dispersed to the general communities all over the place! The person who takes advantage of the new rules will prosper. The people who ignore the new rules, success will ignore them. I'm living proof of that. I'm not coming in here claiming I have all the answers. I've very simply humbled myself to admit, "I don't know what I don't know" and seeked out the right info. to take advantage of the future. My goal is help people understand that this is reality and they can do the same thing. That's all. Hope this helps.

diamond,
I didn't comment about the rice because there isn't a shortage in Janesville. If the Cozy Inn isn't giving you your rice, they have other problems. I have no problem getting rice from the other Chinese restaurants in Janesville.

I live in a world outside of Janesville. I am talking about SALES, you are talking about PRODUCTION. They are two different things. Just because GM may be overproducing at the end of the quarter doesn't mean people are buying them, which they are not. You seem to have identified a problem! Inventories are now just over 90 days for the large SUV's, and climbing. That is horrible.

The auto industry is one of the most scrutinized sectors of our economy. Investors have billions of dollars invested. Your idea that GM can "fudge" sales numbers is laughable. Your inside production info is anecdotal and has nothing to do with SALES.

When did I ever say I wanted or didn't want a job at GM? I have a nice job, thank you. I am just trying to find out what impact the $14/hour jobs will really have at GM and Janesville.

I have a couple of question for the GM employee's.
How much does the employee pay for union dues?
How much does the union cost GM yearly?

Zoom -What world do you live in ?? Come back down to the real world ! Have you NOT seen/heard that they have made mistakes!(lol)They have fudged #'s and I'm sure they will not stop anytime soon.Do you have any idea how many cars/trucks come off the lines at the end of quarters just so they can make they numbers ? They used to be a joke that you never wanted a car that was build on a monday,now you don't want one that was build at the end of the quarter, It's now called "SHIP IT". On your question on suppliers getting a package.. Lear should/will get $ and 2 years of schooling/training.By the way no comment on the rice? With all your questions it sounds like you may be changing your mind on getting a job at GM ???

diamond,
Sales numbers do not get "fudged". This is a publicly traded company. There are far more people (shareholders) watching GM than just us folks in Janesville.

I would agree that their is incentive for GM to lay off at Janesville and not the other two plants. And I would agree that there is far too little reporting on how this effects the supplier workers, who won't get 85% of their pay or a buyout offer.

cocktail848,

In 90 % of the cases, you need to have a Ph.D to be a full fledged professor...