John Wayne, first, I suggest you try spell check before you post. According to your logic, if we comment on GM or Lear workers, we are "nasty angry people". Well, no, I am not. I do get tired of any worker who complains about the lack of benefits they get when they are laid off. Most of the laid off workers in the real world receive NO benefits when they are laid off. So if we don't whine along with you, too bad. Believe it or not, there are more laid off workers in Janesville than just GM or Lear. Your entitlement mentality is just plain wrong.

exlear which percent do fall under?

Darwin- You seem to like quotes - try this one. "No taxation without representation" - this one's pretty clear & to the point - no need for your "interpretation" on this one!!!!

What can we say, Darwin's yet to be evolved, genetically drifted, and not naturally selected brain matter cannot be grouped with those who exhibit a survival of the fittest factor.

Chad Vader, come on buddy, you have got to stop drinking the UAW/GM Kool-Aid!! UAW is done in this town and you need to move on. Why are you still sticking up for them?

Your last comment about not hearing any whine from UAW/GM people cracks me up. Are you serious? You do not think they are whining because they moan and groan just like you. And to your narrow minded outlook on labor, they believe in the same thing and are correct. You would not dare go against the "party line"!

Come on, feel free to say what you really think about the UAW. It will do you some good.

you can't understand anything, joker, because you spew the same boring, old, anti-union, unsubstantiated first person story about some GM people you knew or heard complain. Get real and get a life. No one is buying your narrow minded pile of horse poo you try and spread day after day. I KNOW that I know more union/GM people than you, and I don't hear any whine like you do.

who said laborfest was cancelled? did I miss something?

I could never understand why GM workers and UAW members think they are better than other workers and entitled to more benefits because they have to ice their hands and feet every day. Spare me your whining please! I could run circles around you "sore" UAW members while working and not break a sweat. I am sure some non UAW workers could do the same.

I will also say that I am not surprised that Laborfest has been cancelled this year.

I just think its sucky that they can still get unemployment while going to school, and others can't. You can't get any kind financial help while in school around here unless you worked at GM or Lear. Sick.

You assumed I don't have an education because...? Eh forget it. It's really not worth it. Enjoy your handout. :)

LOL- I was testing you, you actually do have some education!! Surprise, Surprise.

I worked at lear also and I worked with both Mike And Barb. For the most part they are both good people. But I would like to let people know that the union didnt work as hard as people might think to help those laid off in july of 08. When it came time for our grievence to go to arbitration about our severance money the union was told if lear filed bankrupcy while in arbitration no one would get any money so they took theirs and left us with nothing. We were told only people that were still employees of lear got paid. In december of 08 everyone that got laid off in july recieved a letter from lear corperate stating that as of december 23rd we were no longer employees of lear. So allthow Mike is a decent guy in the end we all got hung out to dry. And just so every one knows I'm not crying because my benifits are running out as I have a full time job. Times are still tough for me and my family but we are getting by. So even after 14 years at Lear with nothing to so for it, except some good friends, I have no hard feelings against Mike he did what any one else would do, he looked out for number one.

LOL. You mean "congratulations."

Spunky: Finally you make sense. Congradulations!!!!

Rosewood - You're right. I can't take it. I think I will cry myself to sleep tonight cuz a stranger on the local newspaper blog tried to hurt my internet feelings.
willow - Thanks for the advice. Maybe I will finally go back and get some learnin'. Maybe they'll even let me graduate to the 6th grade this time!

Spunky: Sounds like you can dish it out but you can't take it!!!

spunkmeyer, you sound bothered. You have to go to high school before you know what it is all about.

Rosewood - You have no idea what I've paid in taxes. You have no idea what I made before I was laid off. I may not have made GM wages, but I did pretty well for myself. And I will again. My hard work will pay off. Your silly little schoolyard taunts don't bother me a bit. Like I said, karma is a bitch.
willow - Job snobbery is for high-school kids. Grow up.

Yes, tort reform is needed. But to just stop there would be like patching the damn with duct tape. I may not agree with everything the Democrats have in the bill, and I did vote for Obama, but there is never a reasonable response heard from the Republican's on making things better. Whining and crying, along with a love for the status quo, is what they promote. This country needs politicians that can quit acting like 3rd graders and actually DO something for the citizens that vote them in.

wow magneto, your writing shows your ignorance of what socialism really is. I guess the Union only cared about themselves when they donated toys and food at Xmas to the needy, had many blood drives, and helped throughout the community. ( And, YES, I know many others do this too, much appreciated, but this Rush Limburger clone is slamming a certain group). And tell me, when did you ever turn down a raise, you greedy monster? And just for reference, it's Kool-aid.

So, WE had a vote but it doesn't count because you have decided - that isn't democracy. You already pay for universal coverage through ER's and bankruptcy but your too narrow minded to understand this.

Do you pay any taxes? So, now YOU have decided that YOU get to pick and choose. YOU don't get to decide Congress does and as I have said many many many times, money is NOT Constitutionally protected, people and their "welfare" is. Try reading the Constitution.

THIS is whats wrong with the system & why WE cant all afford health insurance.
Family Of Swine Flu Victim To Sue NYC For $40M.....
http://wcbstv.com/local/swine.flu.nyc.2....
Really? Come on!! $40M - wow I wonder why insurance costs so much. Get TORT reform & Term Limits now and Everyone could afford health insurance.

darwin, ok I'll bite. Nice stretch but assuming your right - WE dont have to pay for YOU. WE think access to affordable care for everyone is great but not free & with all the strings attached that this bill has.

Yes, and WE voted for Obama. The first word in your definition of welfare is health. Health care for everyone right in the Constitution - thank you andre for your support.

You can't have it both ways. The same people who complain about jobs going overseas also complain when the government offers to educate people who loose jobs because of it. I don't know the exact date it's been around, but my mom got TRA type benefits nearly twenty years ago. I'm all for fiscal restraint, but education should always be a top priority of our government both state and federal. I'll also add that Wisconsin offers a variety of educational benefits for ANYONE who is laid off, not just Lear. With all the extensions most people should be able to obtain a technical degree in something. Anyone who pursues a degree with this opportunity is smart. It's a chance to better ones self and later contribute more to state taxes through employment. Or people can complain about welfare. Personally I think giving people who take the infinitive an education is far more productive.

I'm a tax payer blah blah blah. I pay your salary blah blah blah. I love democracy and voting when my guy is in charge: cutting taxes and expanding government. Everything else is tyranny and socialism.

You don't get extra votes based on your taxes. Money isn't Constitutionally protected. There is no provision in the Bill of Rights that prevents the government from raising taxes to pay for something. In fact, the preamble, specifically states we are to promote the general welfare. "Welfare" is IN the Constitution. Unemployment should be extended along with educational support. Those who decided to get jobs - good for you. However, whining about other people's decisions sounds a bit like your trying to control their lives because of your regrets.

Thanks for the advice!! I do not have to wait for anything, I have been offered a job that starts at $24.50 an hour with excellent benefits when my schooling is finished next year. As far as my attitude- you asked for it!!!!

rosewood - thats a nice attitude you've got there. I do hope it was a good summer at our expense cuz it could be a long winter.......waiting for the stimulus to kick in ................keep waiting it'll be 2010 soon, then in 2012 it will come back around.

needhelp since my mom is dead you are right I do not talk to her, and my husband does not know what you like.

O.K Spunky and Need help- I probably paid more taxes than both of you combined. I also don't drink if you must know, however, I do appreciate both of you paying for my education and allowing me to enjoy my summer at you expense. Thanks!!! Oh yeah I'm not a guy the last time I looked.

Needhelp...that was totally out of line.

pubsrus-your greed and that of the modern day unions are a disgrace. You care little for the greater good and only for your own narrow interests. You are a tool of the Democratic/Socialist party and won't stop until we are all comrades. I am way to informed to drink the cool-aid you're pouring.

willow-you might want to ask your mom or your girl about what I like,but than again I have a feeling you go the other way.and you might not be on talking terms with your mom because of it.............

royo the people at Lear and GM have probably paid more in taxes to this state than you have made in wages.

WILLOW-SORRY Maybe you only eat the HOTDOG,

needhelp, I can see why you make $7:00 an hour, you really need some education.

WILLOW-YEAH LIKE MAYBE YOUR MOMS OR YOUR GIRLS HOUSE,YOUR KIDS LIKE BURGER RIGHT.............

Right To Work only means individuals who do not choose to be part of the union don't have to pay "fair share" dues to the union. I don't want union representation. Why should I have to pay for something I don't want or need? I think it's against MY religion. I would rather use MY money to pay for representation of MY choosing.
officerfriendly1---all that means is I will suck on the teat of those who sacrifice to get my raise, retirement,or other benefit. I wish people in "right to work states" would negotiate their individual contracts and then maybe they would appreciate what a union actually does for them besides "protect the lazy" worker. As one who has been on both sides of that fence; I have seen non-union office personnel have screwing off down to an art form with about as much ability to do their job as a first grader and yet they still hang on. So lazy and inept is not solely a union attribute.

How can any of you make enough money to pay taxes for us to go to school, when all you do is blog alday? needhelp, shouldn't you be flipping burgers somewhere?

Well said Spunk , I don't think it will do a bit of good but , well said .

SPUNKMEYER- THANKS FOR THE BACK UP,The only thing this rosemary ever put ice on is a cocktail on his lunch break,And than went back to work drunk.And your right the tax payers are now going to pick where his mommy and daddy left off............

rosewood...you should be thanking us for your education, not the State of Wisconsin. Where do you think the state gets the funds to pay for your education? The taxpayer.

Spunkmeyer, $30/hr - you do realize then they get benefits worth almost $20/hr - these are actual real numbers for construction workers around here. What's really amussing is this: the hypocrites Err I mean Solidarity Brotherhood union members around here demand these kind of wages but then when it comes time for them to write the check - who do they use? thats right, the cheapest- NON Union company they can find. Don't believe me? Name 1 Union House builder / Carpenter, Concrete worker, Heating Contractor, Residential Roofer, etc. etc. in this area. The Only trade that even exists here serving residential customers is the electricians & I think that's because most of them were in GM once & went out on there own. Hypocricy - I mean Solidarity rules!!!!

Spunkmeyer-right on target. These folks who run this stuff in our faces are the same folks that probably deserved to be let go. And your are right. There are many people who probably work in tougher conditions that make less money. Appreciate what you got because some don't have nothing.

Unions are only good for keeping around dead weight in the workplace.

And, by the way, I realize most people who worked at GM or Lear were hard workers. But spare me the "I had to ice down my hands from overuse" crap, k? Most blue-collar jobs are hard on the body. There are those of us who've had to do that every day for our entire adult lives without the $30/hr paycheck to make us feel better about it.

Rosewood - I think that's the attitude so many people have a problem with. You get your unemployment extended for 2 years while you go back to school for a different career. Those of us who couldn't afford to live on unemployment and go back to school had to take jobs to support ourselves and our families. You're going to school on OUR dime, and yet you're obnoxious about it. If you wanna rub our noses in it to make yourself feel superior, so be it. But karma is a bitch.

Minan-why do you think companies move south? Becasue it's sunny and warm, hell no, because taxes are lower (and like tiredofheringit said-the cost of living is lower so the wages equate what it costs you to live down there)

Up here, they tax you to death and and expect all the taxpayers to foot the bill for all the people to don't want to work. I would imagine you belong to a union and you really don't do much

Minan:
1. Lower Wages - this means nothing, the Cost Of Living is typically cheaper in Right to Work States - look it up. You couldn't live your lifestyle on Janesville's wages in NYC - point in case.
2.Health Care - the market dictates what employers pay or don't pay for health care
3.poverty rate - stick around Janesville & WI in general for a little while longer & you'll see poverty rates!
5. Work Comp Rates - Are you kidding me! this is set by the state proportionately with the Rate of Pay in an area. Again, based upon Cost of Living in an area.
6.Ever heard of a little organization called OSHA? Employers don't get away with anything - unlike back in the 30's, 40's & 50's I'll give you that.
Unions had a time & a place & served everyone well then, but times have changed. Let's see: join a union for what reasons?
Pension: Union Pensions are Not willable 401k's, Co. Stocks, Roth IRA's etc. are. Die & your family gets squat!
H Insurance - Its required by Federal law. If an employer gives a level of benefit to 1 employee (typically him/herself) its REQUIRED to give same to all employees.
Rate of Pay - Yeah I'll bust my butt so Joe Blow can go whatever his speed is at what ever it is we're doing for the exact same pay. This BREEDS laziness & lack of motivation - do the least amount possible to get by til Friday (PAYDAY) - granted, not all are like this but lets be honest, even you know several like this that shouldnt even have a job muchless get paid the same as you.

Minan:

The WSL has lost no credibility based on its ownership. Murdoch does not write for the paper.

I guess liberal flagships like th NYTmes, LA times, washington post, Chicago Tribune, et al are doing well because Murdoch does not have an equity stake? Like many in the news paper business-they are hemorrhging money. Its a failing business model. Murdoch does not sit on the editoral board for the WSJ.

2009 July National unemployment rates based on educational attainment:

No high school diploma: 14.7%
High school diploma: 9.4%
Some College no degree 8.8%
College degree 5.3%

Janesville demographapics show that only 21% of the adult population has earned a bachelors degree (or higher). Compare that to Madisons population. What is the unemployment level in Madison?

Another way to view this is to say that you are more than 3 times as likely to be unemployed if you chose to quit high school than someone who chose to attend college and graduate. People are free to chose. The Vaughns are choosing college. There chances to find something new in this economoy is much better than someone who is choosing not to attend college.

ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/suppl/empsit.cpseea17.txt

If you are 17 years old and choose to drop out-good luck. The reality of Janesville is that in good economic times it was a great place to live. In bad economic times its not a good place to live.

The socialist union supporters always want to spend other people's money. Do you think that's right? Unions even spend money to support political causes that you might not even agree with. How can you say that this is not violating people's right?

Proponents of right to work laws argue that right-to-work states experience higher economic growth and job creation than do non-right to work law states.[5][6] For example, in recent years all of the new auto factories have been located in right-to-work states. Moreover, they contend right-to-work states typically have lower unemployment rates.[7]

A March 3, 2008 editorial in The Wall Street Journal compared Ohio to Texas and examined why "Texas is prospering while Ohio lags". According to the editorial, during the previous decade, while Ohio lost 10,400 jobs, Texas created 1,615,000 new jobs. The article cites several reasons for the economic expansion in Texas, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the absence of a state income tax, and right-to-work laws.[8]

Ohio's most crippling handicap may be that its politicians — and thus its employers — are still in the grip of such industrial unions as the United Auto Workers. Ohio is a "closed shop" state, which means workers can be forced to join a union whether they wish to or not. Many companies — especially foreign-owned — say they will not even consider such locations for new sites. States with "right-to-work" laws that make union organizing more difficult had twice the job growth of Ohio and other forced union states from 1995–2005, according to the National Institute for Labor Relations.[9]

ROSEWOOD-I MIGHT NEED HELP.AND I DON'T SPELL THE BEST,BUT I WAS RIGHT YOUR JUST ANOTHER PUNK THAT HAD EVERYTHING HANDED TO HIM ALL HIS LIFE.I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS LIKE BECAUSE I HAVE HAD TO WORK FOR WHAT I'V GOT.SO I KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH HARD TIMES,UNLIKE YOU.SO ALL I HAVE TO SAY TO YOU IS GOOD LUCK,BECAUSE WHEN YOUR TIME COMES,AND IT WILL.YOU WILL NOT DO WELL,I'M SURE OF THAT.TRY NOT TO KILL YOURSELF OK.AND PLEASE REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU NEED HELP...........

And it sounds like Minan the person would not light up anything on fire.

minan-I guess we know the price you're willing to sell your liberties for.

rosewood-I hope your education is in compassion and manors as you need some.

"No one is taking your rights"

Power to force employees to accept unwanted union representation.

Monopoly bargaining, or “exclusive representation,” which is embedded in most of the country’s labor relations statutes, enables union officials to act as the exclusive bargaining agents of all employees at a unionized workplace, thereby depriving employees of the right to make their own employment contracts. For example, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1935, the Federal Labor Relations Act (FLRA) of 1978, and the Railway Labor Act (RLA) of 1926 prohibit employees from negotiating their own contracts with their employers or choosing their own workplace representatives.

Need Help- Your name fits you, you do need help (professional). My dad did work at GM, however, I worked at LEAR. Notice the spelling. If you did work there you should know how to spell it!! As far as working for $7 to $8 dollars an hour, I won't have to because this great state is paying for my education. Thanks Wisconsin!!!

needhelp-best thing you can do is develop a 5 year plan during which to get an education or skill set so you can better position yourself to get a better job with a good wage. Don't wait for Madison or Washington DC to deliver for you as you will wait forever. Invest in yourself and you will reap the rewards.

P.S. I have never worked for GM, but I worked with GMAC Mortgage, and so I came in contact with some of the GM workers and was stationed at the plant for a short time. I have seen them work and have seen their financials. Just an FYI :)

Why are people so bitter about GM and the like? I feel like this is the reason that the economy has gone deeper and deeper into the sh!tter. People can only have themselves in mind because they don't have the means to have others in mind. GM workers were well paid, and from my experience, some were hardworking and some weren't. You have that everywhere you go, I feel. It's hard for GM workers because they are not used to living on such a low "income" and it's hard for people that have never worked for GM because that "low" income they are used to has been obliterated. There are so many people in this country with different views on the way it should be run, that no matter what, SOMEONE is going to be disappointed. Sometimes, you have to just remember what you DO have, even though it may just be the small things. Hold on the them and cherish them, because there is always someone less fortunate than you. There is always someone hurting worse than you. No one can know EXACTLY how hard things are for someone else until you walk in their shoes. So instead of pointing fingers at others, maybe we should all be pointing them at ourselves and trying our best to get by with what little some of us have. :) JMHO

ROSEWOOD-I'V WORKED AT LEER,AND I HAVE ICED MY HANDS AND FEET ALL MY LIFE,AND FOR A LOT LESS MONEY THAN YOU EVER HAVE.AND I'LL BET YOU GOT YOUR JOB AT GM.BECAUSE YOUR DADDY WORKED THERE.AND THATS THE ONLY JOB YOU EVER HAD,AND I SURE HOPE THAT NOW ALL OF YOU PEOPLE HAVE TO FIND THAT $7.00 OR $8.00 AN HOUR JOB AND TRY TO PAY YOUR BILLS ON THAT INCOME. WALK A MILE IN MY SHOE'S.......

spunkmeyer - good post

4% of the private sector jobs are union. If union were needed today as they were 80 years ago than this number would be much higher.

Minan,

We should not be forced into union membership though, you are missing the point. We should have the right to work wherever we want. It is a monopoly.

Need help- it sounds like you are the one crying. The Vaughns were only answering questions honestly. It seems like you are only jealous and bitter. Did you apply to GM or Lear when they were hiring? I bet you did and for some reason you were not hired. For those of you who believe we were lazy, many of us came home after each shift and had to ice our hands from overuse or ice our feet from standing on cement. We didn't like it but we did it to take care of our families so don't judge us if you never did the work!! It's not Lear and GM crying, it's everyone else who is jealous.

Nothing in life is guaranteed. Make sure you appreciate what you have and do not take anything for granted. Enjoy your kids, family and friends. The adversity in life is not what is important but how you rebound from it is what gives you character. To all that have faced layoffs and downsizing, keep your head up and keep fighting. The famous Mexican Revolutionary Emilian Zapata once said "I would rather die standing than live on my knees".

I LOST MY JOB IN DEC,2008,AND ONLY GOT UNEMPLOYMENT UNTILL THE END OF MARCH.AND WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME I COULD NOT QUALIFY FOR EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT FUNDS UNTILL THIS DEC,COMING UP.SO IF I WERE YOU I WOULD THANK MY LUCKY STARS.I HAD NO MONEY IN THE BANK TO FALL BACK ON,AND I HAVE A 10 YEAR OLD SON WHO HAS TO START SCHOOL IN LESS THAN A MONTH,AND I HAVE HAD NO INCOME FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS.SO I CAN TELL YOU THIS,I'M SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING ALL YOU GM.AND LEER WORKERS OUT THERE CRYING ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO GET BY,YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HARD TIMES ARE,I'LL BET YOUR MOM'S AND DAD'S WERE ALL GM.WORKER'S AS WELL.SO MAYBE IT'S ABOUT TIME ALL OF YOU HIT BOTTOM AND SEE HOW IT FEELS,STOP ALL YOUR CRYING AND WASTEING SPACE IN THE NEWS PAPER.MAYBE NOW YOU WILL HAVE TO WORK FOR $7.00 AN HOUR AND SEE HOW THAT FEELS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. HARD TIMES YOU HAVE NO IDEA,BUT I SURE HOPE YOU FIND OUT WHAT IS TO HAVE THEM.................

Labor unions in this country have been in decline for decades, from a peak of 32 percent of the workforce in the 1950s to just 12 percent today. The only growth area in unionization has been among government employees, with 37 percent now unionized compared with only 8 percent of workers in the private sector.

The Vaughns are doing what is best for them. I applaud their efforts and wish them great success.

officer friendly; why don't you move then if those right to work states are so great.

There ARE jobs out there. They just don't pay what people are used to. But when times get tough, you gotta take what you can get. It says he sent out 100 resumes in search of a job as a labor rep. He boxed himself in. I wonder if that's why the unemployment rate is still so high. Maybe others are doing the same thing. Had I waited on a position that was the same as what I had before I was laid off, I'd still be unemployed. I'm working 2 jobs now, almost twice as many hours as I was working before I was laid off from the company I was with for 7 years. My full-time job is in a completely different field. You do what you have to do.

They are getting some bad educational advice. He's studying supervisory management OR human resources. (not sure how he doesn't know yet) Barb is studying criminal justice. They should be studying something that will give them hard job skills for the coming economy. Think Mechanic, Healthcare, Solar Panel Installer, Agriculture, etc.

The ones laid off in July got nothing. The ones that remained until the plant closed only worked about a combined two more months yet got a full severance even though they knew about the plant closing long before the July layoff. It was typical of the UAW to say tough luck to the old and worry about those remaining since they were still paying union dues. It's all about the bottom line, yet they give a hard time to "The man" at the corporations for the same type of nonsense. It's extremely hypocritical. The UAW propaganda magazine stops being sent about two weeks after you're permanently laid off and it's as if you never existed. The money and benefits are great while they last, no complaints there. However, it's not a huge surprise the unions are evaporating, since they run like a bunch of crooked Vegas mobsters and protect the worst of the worst. I've seen it a hundred times at multiple locations. It's feast or famine and right now it's famine. That's not to say GM's management wasn't a major source of this meltdown. Anyone with half a brain could see this one coming. Thankfully there were some options available for those being laid off and most people are going to school. The Wisconsin Job Center has several options for anyone being laid off, not just Lear workers. Mike was a good guy. Many didn't like the way things went at the end, but most of that was out of his hands. Glad to see he's going to school. He's certainly smart enough to make the best of it.

Actually, Mike and Barb are very helpful and caring people. They took the time to share their story and werent looking to be anyone's dumping grounds. A lot of people lost their jobs, some are moving forward and trying to better themselves, like The Vaughns and some are sitting around whining about their situation. I guess it makes some people feel better to have someone to blame! Mike put alot of years and alot of time into his work. When it was the end of the day for everyone else, he was still at work. He earned every bit of his severance!

I appreciate the Vaughn's willingness to put their business out in the open. There are a lot of us that were laid off due to no fault of our own who are now struggling. Bob1951 stated that this is the time that politicians were elected for...this is also the time to be a good neighbor. We can all sit on our pitty-pots crying our poor me stories and blaming everybody and their brothers or we can put our collective heads together and grind through this.

hereby: i will have to agree with you,everyone complained about gm being here and wanting them gone. well now there gone and we are all paying for it.so,you happy now? for those of us who did not receive severance packages,it was not in the contract and you know it.those who received severance, good for you to have a shop person who made sure were taken care of as long as it would last.now as for always running gm and their suppliers into the ground,its time you shut your mouth and quit your wining,my husband worked at lsi and were happy to get what was owed to him and moved on,and the rest should do the same.its over there will not be anything like that here again,and most of you who run your mouth,dont have anything to do with gm or its suppliers anyway,so you happy now everyone is without or could be doing better? it must be awful to be so bitter all the time and jealous of others lives.soon your smiles that gm is gone will turn to frowns when you lose your job, because there is no money.i also hope no other jobs leave this area.

First of all I have known Mike and Barb Vaughn for years and they are nothing but nice people. Barb goes above and beyond to help other people out, especially at school. Shop gurl must be someone who tried to ride her coat tails at school and still managed to do poorly. Mike tried the best he could to get everyone a severance package, however, there is a little thing called a "contract". With that said, this article had nothing to do with severance pay. The Gazette called them and asked if they could talk about what is going on now. I too was laid off from Lear who did not receive severance, but I am fine with that because that is the way it was. Get over it!! I think it is time for people to stop being so bitter. Hey shop gurl take your bitter pill and worry about your own pathetic life and quit bothering good people.

shop_gurl can't you read?She did not say it.He did.What gives?

Citizens of Janesville everyone complained about gm workers and workers for suppliers of gm for years now ,stop complaining you are getting what you all wished for! You have seen nothing yet.Millions and millions of dollars have left Janesville for good.I do not understand why you are complaining now.I hope no other company leaves Janesville.

shop_gurl I have known her for many years and if she was awful to you, you must be an awful person and deserved what you got.

The people that were still employed when the doors closed all received their severence package, you were not entitled to a severence package so I guess the boo! whoo! goes to you.

didnt see anythng mentioned about the thousands of dollars he got for a severence package unlike the rest of us that lost our jobs before him. I got nothing but a boot out the door and a sore rear to match. BOO! Whoo!

staggerlee what does the severance package have to do with the article and running out of unemployment?

It's too bad the union reps couldn't have fought for a severance package for all their union "brothers and sisters". WHAT A JOKE!!!!!