Good Morning..Well GREAT news!!! I believe this is the very first time that a shop chairman has won 3 times in a row. I would say that he is doing something right, wouldn't you? This should tell certain people that negativity never wins and an honest, positive person will always prevail.

Jackson, intelligent people debate and present ideas with facts, not with feeble opinions. Please explain to everyone how GM has given Janesville a bad image? After you explain that, can you please provide a reliable source for the information?

Jason I have been bring ideas to the table.

1. Cut the cord on GM, and give there worker zero tax payers dollars. This is like bring a over weight person a dozen sweet rolls.

That's refreshing ms_sassy_wi.

This is irrelevant. Ask 60,000 people what they think and you will get 60,000 DIFFERENT responses. There is no reason to "bash" the entire community of Janesville over ONE manufacturing facility when the ENTIRE community either benefits or struggles right along with the workers of said company. It hasn't helped that the government has been denying any threat of a recession for a couple of years now, but the reality is that many people will be looking for other employment and struggling financially to maintain their homes and responsibilities on loans, etc. It doesn't do anyone any good to hear (or say) "I told you so" or comments similar to that. The challenge before us: what can we do to get out of this situation before it gets worse? I maintain that community strength comes from bonding with our neighbors. I know many people who contributed to community social service agencies with valuable charitable donations when they were able. I'm sure many of those donations came from GM-Janesville, Lear, SSI, CTI/TNT/LSI employees and families. Let's step up as a community and find ways to help each other. United-we stand. Divided-we FALL.

Cocktail, I agree with you. But good luck ever getting a nice elegant restaurant or theater in Janesville.

“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.

Jackson:

It isn't GM that ruins Janesville's image. Closing the plant won't bring some class to the area. Nor will it stop the area's college grads from high tailing it out of the cest pool. Try getting some culture and a couple corporate headquarters (like ABC Supply)in the community first. Heck start with a small goal like actually having a nice elegant restaurant make it in town first. It is seriously extremely sad that the armpit to the south (Beloit) has nicer restaurants.

Seabee:

For some reason I doubt you are "prospective business owner thinking of bringing my plant/warehouse/service to Janesville". I picture you as a guy that posts to this board in between his sessions of World of Warcraft. And again, I wouldn't worry about the spelling that much. I have gotten many emails from CEO's of Fortune 500 companies with misspelling and bad grammar. And they seem to be a lot more successful then you.

Jackson, I seriously disagree with your comment. GM and the local workers are dedicated to this community. I'm not one of them, but like many families that grew up in Janesville - I am related to many of them. Some working, some retired - all of them earned their paycheck.

Slapping the face of people you know nothing about is just showing your ignorance. There are larger problems here - globally - that are affecting this local GM facility, its workers, and thousands of families here in my city.

If you don't have a comment, fix, or suggestion that is constructive - let me make one: sit down and shut up.

GM, and there workers have given Janesville a bad image. Now it is time for them to leave. That sun shine was the hope of Janesvilles future with out GM. It has been a long time coming, but hopeful it is the begin of the end of this problem called GM, and there workers that have brought shame to our town over that past years. The shame,and dark image of being lazy.

To: whatdidyousay, You are right, each person has to look at their own lives to decide if they should reitire, when they have their 30 years in. But, with nearly 40 years in does Jerry really need to keep working. He has his pension, why does he want the job? Is it because he misses the grievance settlements that he always negotitated for himself at contract time, which amounted to thousands of dollars? If you were really a rep in the plant, you know that this is true.
You were also the one who made the statement earlier, that the younger senority people didn't know what a good shopchairperson looked like. Well,I too worked under several of them and there has only been one, who was in it for personal greed, Jerry. The others,including Dohner have all wanted the job because they wanted to help the membership.
If you attended yor membership meetings you would also know that when Jerry is out of office, he only come's to membership meetings in an attempt to try and make the shopchairperson in office, look bad.
Finally, if you were a rep, you would know that bosslady96 has heard the second hand information right, the cushion line on both shifts was lost to Lear under Jerry's watch. You would also know that Jerry's son was one of the first hired into to Lear. So go figure

I'm not blaming anyone for this other than GM. Do I think it's completely their fault, no. But we all know there is a perception and there is a reality. Perception was when we signed that nat'l contract we had jobs, reality hit on Monday. Unfortunately John may get the backlash.

I agree that there is no solidarity, not really anyway. There is too much of a sense of us (the workers) and them (the Shop Committee). My only real beef is lack of any communication. Ever since John came in there has been what is perceived, there's that word again, as a blackout of communications. People feel they are being kept in the dark and lead through fear mongering.

Don't get me wrong, I like John, he's a good guy. But I'm only one person and he's perceived by many as someone that gives everything up and takes care of his own.

Thank you Darius! I am in 100% agreement with you. Now more than ever is when we should be pulling together. If you don't believe me, go talk to a retiree, they will tell you about tough times! Why do you think we are the oldest manufacturing facility? Because there is no longer a plant in Kenosha. Want to talk about tough times? Talk to those people. We should be looking out for each other. You don't even have to talk to people in Kenosha, there are enough people here at Janesville GM that have already uprooted once because their plant closed. Please, let's pull together, not pull apart!

Seabee

"Litteracy" as you spelled it is incorrect. "literacy" is the correct spelling.

Darius: I agree with your most recent posting. In fact, I was just scratching my head over the obvious here: First, everyone gets upset at non-GM employees attacking those that work at the plant. Now, many of the GM workers seem to be attacking each other in this forum. Where is the unity, solidarity and teamwork, workers?! Quit bickering and come together ... I agree, get to your next union meeting and take a part in whatever power you have left.

whatdidyousay..I try to reply to your questions with an answer. Why have you not answered any of my questions? Please straighten me out if I am wrong on Jerry and the Lear issue...can you? And if you didn't understand my last reply to you, I am not employed by GM, therefor I cannot run for the position. Are you? I can say that we HAVE planned for the future and have not rode this gravy train like most GM workers. Let me take a stab in the dark here...I will bet that you have almost 30 years in, but won't retire, because why??? Maybe its YOU who never thought the gravy train would come to an end. I would also take that bet on diamondback, gamblerone and TAZJr800. RETIRE for god's sake and let the younger workers have a chance. I think that someone did that for you guys a long time ago.

momof1~
Thanks for the feedback! I'm not putting these posts on here to show how intellectual I can be! I'm put these on here because I want to HELP! I was one of those people blaming everyone else but me for everything wrong in my life. I got involved in a leadership program that helped me voluntarily get in touch with reality and then, confront it...HEAD ON! These blog sites, unfortunately allow the meek to hide behind the keyboard of a computer and constantly spew negativity. Fact is, this world needs more positive and it starts right in our homes with our children! One's financial woes or the situations that people put themselves in shouldn't dictate how we raise our kids. Those principles are timeless. It's called honor, duty, character, integrity and courage. If we can't display that in our own homes with the people that mean the most to us, how can we make a positive impact in our communities? It's time to stop blaming everyone else and take personal responsibility for our own failures and success. As far as GM goes, blaming John Dohner or Mike Sheridan for the state of the Janesville GM plant is nothing short of a being a coward. Remember, these people were voted into position. Whether you voted for them or not, they're still your leaders. If people think that they're leadership is sub-par, they should've thought of that when they hit the ballot boxes. It's a team effort! Personally, I think these men have done a fairly decent job considering the times we live in. The rules have changed. There is no such thing as leverage anymore. People should be grateful for what they have and how good they've had it. I put my time in down at the plant and I didn't vote for either of these men. However, I was part of the union that these men represent, therefore, I backed them and respected them. It's called solidarity! Something many of the union members and people in our society have long forgotten about.

No, whatdidyousay, I do not see that, because I am not a soon-to-be-ex GM worker. I AM though, a concerned Janesville citizen who like many out there, has alot of family/friends who do work there. All I can say is that if Jerry gets into the shop chair position, this plant is screwed. What has he done for this plant? If I remember correctly, isn't it Jerry who sold out the seating line to Lear to make sure his kid had a job? From what I remember, the union ran Jerry's kid out, just like they did to Jerry. Now that Lear may go back into the plant, will Jerry sell the GM workers out like he did last time so his kid can keep a job?????

Darius~ I 100% completely agree with you. Nice post!!!

Seabee, please forgive me for this post.
I tend to agree with you on the aggravation that we can experience reading posts that have absolutely no attention paid by the poster as to their readability. Minor errors and a certain degree of “casualness” should be forgivable of course, because posts are often made spontaneously, and should be, if their content is to be timely. But complete disregard to general rules of writing is another thing entirely. Why would a poster think the content of their post should be “respected” if they didn’t even take the time and thought to make it legible?
That being said, and because of those many criticisms in your posts about those very things, my natural instincts made me give your most recent post here a very careful going over. Do you know you made no less than three very glaring spelling errors, and made no divisions by paragraphing?
Just a comment..
Now, for the sake of staying on topic, and because it’s true; I believe Janesville’s GM plant was down to one shift long enough for those who were laid off to run out of UC benefits. I believe it was around 1980. They eventually came back to full capacity after that. It certainly is not a good thing, though.

I find it amusing that alot of people are blaming the union for this. The decision comes from the company. It came from the company to move medium duty, it came from the company to reduce the line speed, and now the company said to cut a shift. It's not John's fault this has happened. Losing some of the stuff in the contract sometimes is inevitable if you want to keep other improtant things. Since the UAW doesn't have alot of barganing power anymore mainly driven by the economics, you do all you can to keep things but collectivly you might have to give things if you want to keep going. To be honest, overall for what John has been given, he's done a good, fair job. Jerry is a good guy, but the old school ways of barganing and negotiating could put Janesville out for sure. Woody, well he's just lazy and will do anything to get off the line to benefit himself. For those who work there, It's a two man race in my opinion, I'm picking JD because of his finesse and fairness. Before blaming him on what has happened and happening, get the facts and for those who work there, start going to the union meetings, you might learn something!

diamondback..which part are you referring to?

bosslady96-You are the true loser if what you are saying........you truly believe to be true ???

whatdidyousay....when you look in the mirror, do you see a good shop chairman? If so, I hope you are running for the position. If not, what do you see in the mirror??

Darius here does a great job. Not only was this a classic rant, he actually put effort into writing in it such a way that it wasn't painful to read. Excelent work Darius! I happen to agree with 99% of what you say also. To those who accuse me of picking on people, I say what you type here is a reflection of who you are. You may say that I am sarcastic, demand a certain standard of litteracy, and have pretty conservative views. The point I am trying to make is that when you, and I don't care who you are, where you work, or what you believe, go out of your way to take the time to post your thoughts or whatever, and then don't bother to spell, punctuate, capitalize etc.... people like me shake our heads and wonder how it is that these people can even hold a job, much less afford a computer to spew their lack of education or innatention to detail to the world. If you talk to any employer out there, the top requirement for the vast majority of jobs is the ability to communicate clearly. If I am a prospective business owner thinking of bringing my plant/warehouse/service to Janesville, and I am doing research on the area and happen to come upon these forums, what am I to think about Janesville? I would most likely think that half the people in this town, judging by the posts, don't really care about the way they communicate. What else do they not care about? Do I want to deal with either making up the education they either did not get, or refused to get, or putting up with their communicative disabilities and hope it doesn't become a weakness on my SWOT analysis? Maybe there is a reason all the blue collar jobs arround are going away after all........

~cocktail
You are right! People like to point fingers at others when the chips fall! They should be pointing those fingers at themselves! Don't get me wrong, I have empathy for the workers in peril. I'm praying for everyone. But, people have to realize that GM, Lear, Ford, Chrysler etc. aren't responsible for OUR futures! WE ARE! I worked at the plant, I know the routine! I also knew that I MADE THE CHOICE TO BE EMPLOYED THERE! Nobody else forced me to. The American people should be mad at themselves if anybody. WE, as citizens of this country have empowered the people who are deciding the fate of this nation as we speak! We've sold our freedoms for security. That's why our forefathers put specific laws in stone 200+ years ago! To protect us from our own government! The whole problem boils down to LEADERSHIP! We have none! The leaders guiding us have no sense of honor, duty, character, integrity or courage because our generations of people have been taught to become "self serving" individuals! There is no sense of loyalty within our communities anymore! Everybody is so wrapped up in themselves and "what's in it for me" that we've become blind to the people around us. This country was once great because people had each others backs and we were tight. Now we have the modern day intellects who have their own version of the truth that fits into their own agendas running to the govt. everytime something doesn't seem fair! Do people realize that everytime we empower the govt. to make new rules and laws that cater to the needs of the "few", we are selling out our freedoms?? We are giving the govt. more and more control and eventually, we become a dictatorship. That's where we are heading if the American people don't wake up and start instilling the core values back into our kids and culture and stop compromising the future for personal gains. Corporate American is a classic example of people selling out the values that made this country so great. As long as they get their "big bucks" ....screw everyone else! Folks, it's time to make a stand and start thinking about these issues again and take this country back! Do it for your families! God bless.

gamblerone & TazJr800 & whatdidyousay..If it weren't for John being on the National Negotiating Committee last summer, this Janesville plant wouln't even be open, and I think you know that. Don't be fooled be the people who are running against John..they each have over 30+ years in that plant. Why aren't they retiring? They do not care what happens to the younger worker, because they have a guaratneed pension. Whatch out for those two (you know who you are)and remember...if either one of thos two wins next week and not John, will YOU be able to sleep at night knowing you dealt yourself the hand you will hold???

I think most everyone saw this coming as soon as the national contract was signed. Their payroll is to high and they need to lower it and keep a large workforce. They know that current employees won't take pay cuts, so they layoff people and when the economy turns around (and it will) they'll hire new people in at the lower starting wage. Also I don't think closing the janesville plant is a viable option, because if I remember right the Janesville plant is one of the very few that they own the property and if it's not running they'll get taxed up the wazoo. I could be wrong and it wouldn't be the first time nor the last. Oh yeah I hope I passed seabea's grammer test.

Very sad. It's a horrible and unfortunate thing to loose any job. I feel extra bad for anyone working in the auto industry; with their salary, benefits and such. I have a brother-in-law who works for Chrysler and I've seen his paycheck and he blows it; fancy cars, boat, motorcycle, eating out... What are these people going to do now? With that many people out of work what can they do now? There aren't a lot of jobs that pay what they have been used to. I am a teacher and my boyfriend works in a small metal shop and don't have a pot to pi$$ in! All of the workers are in my thoughts. Good luck to you.

Very good post cocktail848
The people who are blaming their leaders at the local union shop they are simply not looking at the much bigger picture here. No union leader could have stopped this. The issues are of a much larger magnitude.

seabee: sorry to of upset u with my grammer,punctuating and such. If u have trouble translating my comments then please dont read them Thank You..

People down at the plant actually think that the shop chairman is responsible for this? If you believe that, I can see why you don't work in the front office or at corporate. Come on people, it is a combination of the economy, fuel prices, rising health care costs (referring to GM having to pay the bill for retirees), etc. Voting out a shop chairman won't solve these problems. You need to face the fact that the union is losing power. GM can't compete with other car companies. They need to cut employee overhead. Unfortunately they are going to replace you for $14/hr workers who don’t get retirement health care benefits.

Seabee:

I see you picking on many individuals in these forums because of spelling and grammar mistakes. In fact, you "bumpkin hall of fame" comment I find interesting. Particularly because you still live in the Janesville area. Seems your elite grammar and spelling didn't get you anywhere. It must really eat at you to have to live in a town of what you refer to as "bumpkins." I can only imagine how much your neighbors must enjoy you (sarcasm).

benthinkin. You are exactly correct about the Union only being as strong as the ones it represents. I know there are a few management people who will be delighted that this person here retired because I did NOT let them play their games about "Why did you shut off the line"? etc. More need to speak up and make the working conditions reflect "quality", not "quantity" like they want! (and we see where quantity got them don't we)!Committemen/women are there to help so don't hesitate to put in a call if you have a problem!

Maybe more employees will be thinking about the retirement or buyout now. I took the MSR but am warning all to get their paperwork started now if you plan to retire. I retired 4/1 and no check yet. I imagine I will get 2 checks at once, plus the great economic stimulus check, hey maybe I will take a vacation! Good luck to all who end up on lay off, I hope you can train for a new career if you are too young for retirement!

WHOA! That Oshawa story is enough to give even shell-shocked Janesville GM workers nightmares.

I have no idea who Dohner is or what exactly he does. I am not a GM worker. But I do know one thing: There is no way this present situation can be blamed on just one person. Be realistic please!

In a union, the leadership is only as strong as those that they represent.
If the shop chairman is in a bargaining session with management and management knows he is not supported by his union members then management has the upper hand.
Union leadership gets together to collectively bargain with management. The people that have the real power to fight for the rules are on the floor...unfortunately on the floor the name of the game is c y o a and keep your head down.

GM pulled the same shocking news here in Oshawa today as well. Here is a link to today's news:
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/...
It looks as though GM is cutting jobs on both sides of the border.
I am sorry to see this happen at either plant, because I know workers from both plants, and I know families and related business have to bear the brunt of this in two cities.

If we all work togeather down there , we can get Dohner out of there next week in the elections. Too bad that the people he said he would save , are now laid off , and won't get a chance to vote this loser out. Maybee he will promise us somthing else that he knows he can't deliver on.

Ok peoples.....There are two things I'd like to add to the world of the gazettes blog-o-maniacs. For one I work there and have for the last thirteen years, for ten of those years GM Janesville was this companies bread and butter everybody wanted these monsters. The workforce we have down their is one of the best in the GM system, and you know what "The folks across the pond know it". Janesvilles workforce can darn near turn on a dime in rerates and change overers.We have been tested. Number two, yes!! maybe this plant is the oldest But!! anything that comes off the property is pretty much profit, we also know that for the near future the mpg is not going to jump dramatically, we also know that it is not realistic in the auto world to run a plant with just one shift, and finally I'm pretty sure Oshawa builds trucks that Janesville builds off the same platform. Who's to say that GM won't close Oshawa, move the production here, come up with better technology (mpg) and BADA-BING...Janesville GM is back in business. Never say Never....

If all the gm workers bought a tahoe then they would be in this situation. Driving by gm and looking at the parking, didn't see alot of tahoes? Don't me they can;t afford it either....

thank you JvlResident
There is no one person to blame. I can think back to when I hired in, when the work force was DOUBLE what is is now, and we were lucky to get 200 people to a union meeting! So all the 'nay' sayers and negative comments, just remember, "There but for the Grace of God Go I"....It could happen to anyone at any time.... we should be pulling together, not pointing fingers!

First of all I am sorry to any individual or family that will loose a job or income at GM or a supplier. We need to realize the current state of our economy is the problem. Gas prices, food prices and outsourcing are biting us in the a**. I hope everyone can do what they can to spend there money locally and buy american made products whenever possible. Remember the job you save might be your own.
***
And before we all start about US made cars. The domino effect will come through Janesville, Rock County and Southern Wisconsin. People will not have as much money to spend on eating out, movies, shopping and other extras.

Sassyone = Another great example of the kind of prose that gets one elected to the bumpkin hall of fame. CAPITALIZE! Punctuate.,;"?! Break up your sentences and please try and spell better than your kid in 5th grade.

U people think ur sooo smart huh? Just because u get VOTED into the union shop chair job does not mean u have control on what happens all u r is a voice and the 1 who gets to deliver bad news, its not in his control even though hes the 1 who gets the grief. Y arent all u that know it all in that position? maybe u could of done it better? LOL. if u were that involved with the union and them positions u would understand that he dont pull the strings, he doesnt dictate whats going to happen he gets to voice his opinion & what he feels is best for GM and the workers but he dont make the decisions. understand what ur talking about before u open your mouth!

Soon- Not once did I blame John for the economy or gas prices. I am blaming him for his UNION leadership and loss GM Jobs! While I understand John's hands are tied concerning many issues, the local leadership is terrible.

And yes, I do drive a Janesville made Tahoe. Don't bite the hand that feeds you, right. If every employee felt this way, our marketshare would be much better off!

Don't think i don't understand the role of our president, governmant, etc with the status of our economy, fuel prices, unemployment, housing market, and so on. America is in deep trouble. And in my opinion, Mr. Dohner has done nothing locally to preserve what good jobs are left.

Taz- Let me guess, John Dohner Jr. controls the gas prices and the economy. What are you driving? A Janesville made Tahoe? Oh, you must be supporting Jerry who was in office in the late 80's when GM outsourced all of the seating business, but I'm sure that wasn't his fault, right? Place blame where it is needed, not towards a guy that has been dealt a bad hand!

Mr. John Dohner. Over 2,000 jobs already eliminated from Janesville under your tenure. Now we can add 750 more. Do you have enough seniority to hold a job? Maybe you are still working towards that international appointed position. I just wanted to personally thank you for absoulutely NOTHING ! I hope you sleep well at night knowing it was under you that GM Janesville vanished as we know it.

Yeah, Perot was kind of a nut, but I always wonder what it would be like if a person that started a company that became a Fortune 500 got to be president. Maybe we should require that the VP has to be someone like that ;-) At least the budget would have a chance and they would care about how much the dollar was worth...

Based on his performance in the popular vote in 1992, Perot was entitled to receive federal election funding for 1996. Perot remained in the public eye after the election and championed opposition to NAFTA, urging voters to listen for the "giant sucking sound" of American jobs heading south to Mexico should NAFTA be ratified. --wiki

Does anyone remember that goofy old Ross Perot and what he said about NAFTA and the giant sucking sound of our our jobs draining out of the country? He don't look so goofy now.

Beloitguy-Yes the affects of Beloit Corp are still lingering, but I personally think Beloit did a great job making the adjustment. They have come a long way in the last 15 years. I can only hope Janesville adapts as well.

It's a very sad time for the area. It reminds me of when Beloit Corporation left Beloit. We still haven't recovered from that.

Many people outside of the plant have seen this coming for years. I think that it would have happened much sooner were it not for the extra hard work and dedication of the Janesville plant employees. Now how is GM going to justify such a large facility for this amount of production?

WHERE'S THE UNION LEADERSHIP? HIDING FROM THE FACTS THAT THEY SOLD US OUT. MR DOHNER? MR SHERIDAN WHERE ARE YOU? NO COMMENTS FROM THE UNION LEADERSHIP IS NOT GOOD.