Hope, friendship prevail at appreciation gathering
Photo
A group of GM workers and their spouses gathers at a table during an appreciation day for GM workers at Bobbleheads in Janesville.
JANESVILLE — Holidays are a time to be with family.
So before preparing for celebrations with their biological families, many General Motors, Lear and LSI workers spent time Tuesday night with their auto family.
And like any family gathering, there was a mixture of emotions swirling around the “Appreciation Day” party at Bobbleheads Sports Bar & Grill, 2709 S. Highway 51, Janesville.
“There’s nothing really to celebrate, but people are feeling—people are feeling hopeful,” said Steve Kerl, Janesville, UAW vice president.
Bobbleheads was packed Tuesday evening with auto workers hugging, laughing, chatting and calling out to friends. The bar offered food and drink specials, raffles and karaoke on the day the last SUV rolled off the line at the Janesville GM assembly plant.
And while workers acknowledged it was a sad day, it also was a day for hope, both for the future of GM in Janesville and the future of the laid-off workers.
Dave Johnson, Janesville, said he felt somewhat relieved that the end had come after all the uncertainty.
“I feel that, you know, at least they came out and told us they were closing,” he said. “It’s done. We need to pick up the pieces and move on.”
Johnson saw the layoffs as opportunities to try something new. Like many of the workers, he said he’s thinking about going back to school.
Heather Haschke, Janesville, wanted to make sure she carried a piece of the past into her future. She’s been carrying a brown tile around for weeks asking co-workers to sign it. She plans to put it in her garden.
“I’m hoping tonight to fill it up,” she said.
A few workers expressed darker emotions, such as frustration and apprehension.
“What I am is disappointed,” said Edward Nicholson, Janesville. “This community did not stand behind the plant.”
Nicholson said he wished more residents had called their elected officials and told them how important the plant was to Janesville instead of running down the workers.
But most focused on the positive—the friendships within the room and the chance that they might be called back to build a new product in the Janesville plant.
“It’s just wonderful that we all have this hopeful attitude right now that something else is going to come in,” said Shelley Ball, Beloit.
She and Haschke said they’re sure the GM family will keep in touch.
“Friendships that have built that strong over the years never end,” Haschke said.
Haschke had a New Year’s wish for herself, her friends and the community after a year of bad news.
“I am so looking forward to 2009,” she said. “2009 is going to be a good year for a lot of people.”
Ann Marie Ames contributed to this report.
Dec 30, 2008 at 6:46 p.m.
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ed, you seem pretty shallow, good luck
Dec 26, 2008 at 9:42 p.m.
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RUSerious come on you must be one of those drunks that run out to the bar on your break.for the rest of the out of work people good luck. running to the bar and getting smashed is not going to help the money problem's that might be on the way.
Dec 26, 2008 at 5:52 p.m.
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snarly: "DRINK SPECIAL'S at the bar's for GM people,can we say alot of drunk's will be out driving WAKE UP people tuff time a head of you and yet off to the bar you go"
I think a certain segment of the general population will be at some bar, somewhere, sometime for any reason or no reason at all. I don't think those bars taking advantage of a situation to try to boost their own cash intake will change that too much one way or the other-though some certainly might take advantage of it(so what? a variety of people take advantage of drink specials every day)-but please don't take that advertisement disguised as a story about an "appreciation gathering" give you another excuse to call the average GM worker a drunk, much like ranjan is suggesting they are all strike-happy.
Thank you.
Dec 26, 2008 at 4:01 p.m.
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HMMMMM lets see DRINK SPEACIAL'S at the bar's for GM people,can we say alot of drunk's will be out driving WAKE UP people tuff time a head of you and yet off to the bar you go, Well then do not cry about loosing you'r job and not paying the bill's and my be having to move because you can not find a job.GO ahead and party up
Dec 25, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.
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If what you are looking for is a personal thank you note...leave your name and address and I'll see what I can do.
Dec 25, 2008 at 9:26 p.m.
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ranjan...apparently you don't read much...
I have read in many of the articles concerning GM and the union, numerous employees and former employees expressing their gratitude for what GM has meant to generations of their families. Do you only see what you want to?
Dec 25, 2008 at 1:19 p.m.
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teacher2b--
The market is global now. Why not get your stuff online from wherever the best deal is and tap into the market share from the manufacturer?
It's going to happen whether your or I choose to do it or not. Heck, it's already happening. The jobs as we once knew them are shifting to the internet. They're out there, just have to tap into the opportunity and make it happen.
Dec 24, 2008 at 11:43 p.m.
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whupash hit the nail on the head. Its idiots like Nicholson who cause alot of the animosity towards GM employees here in town. Treat people like they are beneath you because you work at GM and dont be surprised when people snap back when the tables are turned.
Dec 24, 2008 at 9:31 p.m.
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lil attiture, first of all how do you know that GM workers do not support other laid off worker. Also so many on here say welcome to the real world of 10 to 12 dollars an hour. You have no idea the the wages that are paid by a large share of business in rock county.
Dec 24, 2008 at 9:10 p.m.
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i did not see gm employ's calling up goverment officals the last couple of yrs when other things had to lay ppl off?? Why do you guys think you are so special;??
Dec 24, 2008 at 2:23 p.m.
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Merry Christmas to All, Please everyone on the Eve of the Holyiest day of the Year Just Get Along and say a prayer for Mankind in General. Peace to All
Dec 24, 2008 at 1:39 p.m.
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Three cheers for Spark! I couldn't have said it better myself. Merry Christmas!
Dec 24, 2008 at 12:54 p.m.
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anonomouse~
You can't buy them from America..welcome to the global market. Order the stuff online and wear it with pride.
Dec 24, 2008 at 11:53 a.m.
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see you all at Zachow's Jan. 5th:)
Dec 24, 2008 at 11:21 a.m.
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A locally owned restaurant in Chainsville?
Dec 24, 2008 at 11:10 a.m.
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Anonomouse...you are right. It is very difficult to find certain products made in America. But that does not mean we should stop trying. This whole GM situation has made me raise my own level of awareness. I plan to make a conscious effort to buy American products when possible and to shop locally owned shops and restaurants.
Dec 24, 2008 at 10:40 a.m.
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The workers of this community did not make the decisions for G.M. Shareholders were even held hostage in the poor choices top management made. I dont work there but, know a lot of good hard working people who did. Globalization is not working out very well. Upper management put their money in other countries while we here in the USA are suffering the consequences.These are sad times!
Dec 24, 2008 at 9:41 a.m.
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Just wait until the city wants more money from the other citizens because the money they got from GM isn't there.
Dec 24, 2008 at 9:27 a.m.
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Great point Ddoright, I should have mentioned that myself in my post.
Dec 24, 2008 at 9:21 a.m.
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Ed, like many other GM employees, it's time you get out of denial and start placing the blame on GM and the big wigs themselves. Not the community. The community did not do this and making phone calls wasn't going to change a thing. GM's mind was made up and they put you out of a job.
Dec 24, 2008 at 9:18 a.m.
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Zachow's Bar is also having GM Appreciation Days (see the advertisement in the JVL Gazette on Mon. Dec. 22nd).
From January 5 thru January 8, Zachow's Bar is having specials for all GM employees and retirees.
Dec 24, 2008 at 9:14 a.m.
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On the flip side of that, just because one person said that or because a few are bad apples at the plant, we all get lumped in it together, like we are all bad or have that opinion.
Dec 24, 2008 at 9:13 a.m.
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Tell me where to buy an American Made TV, pair of socks, cell phone, computer, etc.
Dec 24, 2008 at 8:56 a.m.
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Ed Nicholson's comments just about made me blow a gasket. Just because a handful of idiots on this blog regularly rip GM does not mean "this community did not stand behind the plant". Believe me Ed, your ordinary Janesville citizen cares deeply about the plant whether they worked there or not. We are proud to be from a town that made such a great product. We're all going to feel this pain, from loss of business to raised utility rates.
And by the way, just how would calling our elected officials have made any difference at all? Did you want them to pass a law mandating the plant stay open?
Merry Christmas.
Dec 24, 2008 at 8:34 a.m.
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Thanks Gazette.
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