Summers off? Darn, how come nobody ever told Me! There is a 2 week shutdown in july, but it was not initiated by union, but by corporate. The second week of shutdown is paid with vacation hours. Chad is correct, summers are not fun in that plant, if You step away from a fan to long You start dripping sweat. I recall times years ago in bodyshop that were 110 plus degrees, add that to smoke, and repetitive motion, and You are one sick puppy. But You get use to it. As I've said before, dont count Us out, be positive, things can happen. If we cannot continue in janesville, we will go elsewhere if need be, but rest assured, I will retire in Janesville, to Me its home, and always will be.

sk - I wonder how many sandbags fit in a Prius or an Accord?

Darius and Truthteller - great posts, it is nice to read something based in reality. I like to read peoples views on GM, but these blogs do invite those who just want to spread rumors and lies. And if anyone thinks if you get 2000 + people in a group that a few would not be obnoxious, then you have no base in reality. These articles are about people losing jobs, a very serious and heartbreaking topic. And people at GM DO know that for every GM job lost there will be losses at our suppliers too. We cannot control what benefits they may or may not receive, all we can do is hope that as a community we can get through these bad times.

You know...in a bit of irony it is a good thing there are some people that still have those big gas guzzling trucks. They are truly needed right now getting sandbags to those in need. I've been to one of the sandbagging stations working & it is a steady stream of trucks coming in. The sandbags are going out as fast as they can be made. So, anyone that is capable of doing sandbags please get out there & help your neighbors. If you saw the look of desperation in these people's eyes and if you have a heart you would be willing to help.

Do you think it will last until February?

Janesville City Government, and area communities will finally realize that most of our people, and economy has nothing to with GM. The Janesville City Government has had a one track mind for so long that they lost prospective. I would be willing to bet that our City has never done a study to figure out were the money flow starts.
I heard from a reliable resource that the GM plant will be closed by February.

"Never explain--your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway."
Elbert Hubbard

To anyone who replies to the resident troll...you have been suckered.

Back on topic. This is news. To suggest that the Gazette is writing too much about GM is silly. I'm sure they will write other articles after they find out when LSI and Lear will be laying people off.

I think Janesville Hero is the famous Mr. Halbach...

Why does everyone feel the need to play this game with "janesvillehero"? You're playing right into his/her hands. Obviously, this person is a "pretender" from a business standpoint and from a human being standpoint. Tell me, can you truly tell what's in a person's heart in an internet blog room? The measure of a person's heart is what they do when the lights are on them in person. Alot of distorted views of, not just GM, but many others is conveyed in sites like these. These sites can be valuable, however, they can be very harmful. We have too many people who take the information in these sites as "the way it really is" and it's too bad it has to work like that. It's real easy to hide behind the keyboard of a PC...Most people don't have the guts to go out into their communities and do it face to face with people. Better yet, MOST people don't have the courage to go out into their communities and just make a positive difference! It's called DISCONNECTED! A false reality. To all of you who feel the need to come in here and criticize and condemn, I'll pray for you. To all the people who come in here and actually have something constructive to add ...I'll appreciate you!

I don't really agree with Janesville hero but his opinions are not isolated. A lot of people are pretty jealous of the wages gm workers make. I wish I could make that much money doing assembly line work! I guess we all knew that those wages could not last at that level forever but what difference does that make now? I think the hard workers with ambition will do just fine finding good jobs in the future. The ones that got drunk during work will have a real hard time and probably had a hard time making ends meet in the past. Most of the people I know that have worked at gm are pretty nice but a couple are downright snobbish about how great they are because they work at gm- this small group creates a lot of the bad attitude towards gm workers. I know it's not right to hold all the good people accountable for the actions of the few.

Janesville hero, If you can retire and live somewhere else, GO. You are not welcome here. You should call yourself Janesville JERK.

jtmek and all the pro unioner's out there: The UAW is partly to blame for this. If they hadn't negotioated such outrageous wages for non-skilled labor maybe GM wouldn't look to leave. Do you people understand why companies go over sea's? It is because they had to pay their employees too much. $28-38 an hour for assembling a truck???? C'mon, be realistic about the wages, this is an $18 dollar a job at most. If you spent every penny you made at GM and lived the most you could then you deserve what is coming. Any fool could have realized that high gas prices and low mileage per gallon vehicles don't go together. Don't act so surprised by this.

I will state that for the record the GM employees still working at GM and Lear (not getting laid off until plant closes) may not get TRA when they get laid off, because they still have to file for approval. The current TRA benefits run out Jan, 1st 2009. They may actually be better off being laid off prior to that date. I think it is sad that people have to bring the flood victims into this story as if nobody cares. The Gazette has been covering the flood tirelessly and has done an excellent job. This story is simply the Gazette posting the news, while nearly all major headlines are directed toward the flood. Moreover, regardless of their situations, GM, Lear, and LSI workers have friends and family who are being affected by the floods. To think that they somehow don't care, because they are getting laid off couldn't be further from the truth. As I've stated before, this story has become bigger than GM. There has been numerous plant closings and reductions in the area unrelated to GM. The current job market in Rock County is not good for anyone unemployed, regardless of reason. To those who are sick of GM stories, get used to them ,because there is still an entire shift that will eventually get laid off. Lets also remember that the second shift hasn't even been laid off yet. As a result, the affects of these layoffs haven't even begun to be felt yet. I continually get disappointed from the bitter condescending comments of some locals. Maybe the lack of compassion and brotherhood/sisterhood outside of GM is the reason this area doesn't get the high paying job alternatives to GM.

janesvillehero wrote: Then I read comments by those like momof5 or ap2533jvl and realize the quality of people around here are probably not worth saving.

Woah here nellie. "Quality?" You feel somehow so elevated above the common man that you decide "quality" of people that deserve a livelihood? How dare you, really. Do you wear a tiny mustache and goose step as well?

How about reading Shoprat by Ben Harper, or watching the movie 'Roger and Me' for a brief glimpse into the life of the autoworker. It's hard, grimy work, You know what other group is unionized, filthy, and often a rural, uneducated population? Slaughterhouse workers. But I really appreciate their hard work every tie I go to the store and can buy protein for my family.

Adolescent name calling JanesvilleHero? It seems to me that putting others down only to make yourself feel superior is a bit on the adolescent side. So maybe you should actually present your points in a more mature manner before you call others out for name calling and other "adolescent" actions. As for what you say about GM workers and such, it doesn't matter to me because I come from a GM family and am so proud of my Dad for working tirelessly to provide for our family. Look in the mirror before you post next time and ask yourself if your loved ones genuinely feel the same pride about you, not only as a worker, but also as a human being.

I feel for all.. Expecially for miserable janesvillehero who has nothing better to do than try to bring others down shame on you.. And to all the flood victims and employees of GM, Leer, LSI may yo rise from this.. God only gives us what he knows we can handle, may he give each and everyone of you the strengh to overcome all..

unknown - that is exactly the problem many will face. How many jobs are available in Janesville right now that will feed a family that everyone is supposed to go out and get? Maybe a year or two from now Janesville will get in other buisnesses, but that is a long time for those looking for work in their home town. It won't be a lack of desire on many peoples part to get another job, it will be the lack of quality jobs.

I had alot of people tell me that Janesville Headcase was a compulsive liar and is heavily medicated. We should feel sorry for someone like that.
But he must be "the man", because he has spinners on the wheels of his trailer home.

toddq4, I think you have GM workers mixed up with teachers. I don't remember having "the summer off", I do remember it being 100+ degrees in the plant while we were building quality vehicles.

Jun 4, 2008 at 3:36 p.m.

"Gazette reporter Jim Leute here. The story doesn't refer to gross pay. It says workers will get "more than 90 percent of (their) weekly take-home pay." That's commonly referred to as net. GM and UAW sources have routinely confirmed for us that with unemployment compensation and SUB pay, workers get about 80 percent of their gross pay and 92 or 93 percent of their net pay. While it might differ slightly for different workers, we're confident in the numbers, and we phrased it conservatively at "more than 90 percent" of take home pay."

I think what everyone has failed to realize is that not only are Gm workers laid off. This is a trickle down effect Lear, FSS, GOTO, and many more companys who supply for GM will also close down and lay off thousands of workers. These workers will not get the benfits that GM workers will. The outcome of this will be that a lot of people will not be bringing in the income that they are accustom to. This trickling down effect will hurt other buisnesses that rely on these people as customers. The out come of this will be that there buisness will be slowed and they will have less money therefore laying off or letting go employees that they cannot afford. And then add to this the flood impact, gas prices, grocerie price increases and what do you get .... a town with much poverty and hardship. So this is not about GM workers and what they will be getting for money or insurance beacuse like someone already said we would take it too if we were in the same situation they will need it, this town will need them to get it. But infact this is about all of us, ALL OF US AS A COMMUNITY and trying to survive durring this time of crisis.

My husband works at Gm and works hard!!
Most of you people should walk in others shoes first before posting. The laid-off workers will NOT get 85% of their pay.
JanesvilleHero you didn't answer the question, what is the name of your business???????????

Folks you've gotta understand that 'hero is just 100% B.S.
You can tell from his posts that he really is not who he says he is and is just living a fantasy life while trying to cause hurt to others with his posts.

In anonymous blogs you can be as smart, as rich, as intelligent as you want to be.
And, after a while, you'll probably even start believing it yourself, just like JanesvilleHero.

I've had many people send me messages and come see me in person in regards to helping this community in it's time of need. To put aside my opinions and use my resources and influence to help turn things around in the Janesville area. Then I read comments by those like momof5 or ap2533jvl and realize the quality of people around here are probably not worth saving. Is this educated debate within these comments or adolescent name calling? Until I decide what to do I'll continue to enjoy lining my pockets with your hard earned money. And no, none of this hardship will come back and bite me in the end. I could retire now and live quite comfortably for the rest of my life. It's win-win for me, really. It's actually rather nice.

G.M employees will have to find jobs like the rest of us sad people who couldn't get a job at the plant because of whatever reason. While you people were having summers off and enjoying life without a care in the world, the rest of us were struggling to stay afloat and find a job in town. Do what we did. find a job outside the town and keep the town alive. This is a great place to raise a family and a wonderful community. We will all pull together and get through it. God bless

To all of you people that think Janesville won't be affected by GM, Lear, LSI, Allied and any other plant closing that will come about, get a reality check! Just wait and see how this will affect us when our taxes start shooting up to make up for the money the city will loose from these plants closing and how our home values will go down, how many people that we will be paying for because of job loss, bankruptcy, etc. You are talking about alot of people that need to look for another job, including my husband. How many jobs are available in Janesville. Businesses are cutting costs, many are not hiring. Kids who are graduating will be looking for jobs, also. Get real already if you think this will not affect you. And to all of you affected by the job loss and flooding, I pray that all goes well for you and your families.

I think at a time like this everyone should pull together. There are alot of people out there right now who are losing everything they have due to the flooding. I don't think that it really matters where these people work, the bottom line is they are human beings and they need everyones support. If a person walked up to you and asked for a ride for his family because his car is flooded in his garage are you going to ask him if he is a GM employee first or would you just offer to help? I'd like to think that we would just help. Once again....to ALL the people out there affected by the layoffs and the flooding, no matter who you are and no matter how much money you make....I wish you all the luck in the world!

Every time the paper reports that GM is laying off all you people worry about GM workers BLAH BLAH BLAH You never her about the rest of the people LIKE LEAR/LSI/ALLIED and their is alot of them already laid off, and they don't get sub pay or anything else so quit coplaining about the poor GM people,every one will have to go find a new job and it not be for the big money GM pay's O and alot of GM people have the chance to transfer,But the rest of the people like LEAR/LSI/ALLIED do not get that lucky. Good luck to them in finding another job And i hope they DO.

I do know as a retired GM worker and UAW member, the local charities will hurt massivly this Christmas if layoff is for very long. I hope locally there are many drives to collect for the food baskets just as we did at the plant.
Also, good luck to the flooded out people. May the darn river lower fast!!!

Honestly, GM haters don't believe how difficult the work is, and they don't care. Never have, never will. Let's not waste our time on them.

Janesvillehero. Drive down N. River road and look on the river side and you will see flooded homes, (many GM employees). So dont make those comments until you know the facts. Actually we could use without your comments at all!!!

Don't overlook the fact that on top of the 85% or 1100.00 dollars gross (28.00 X 40 hrs.) that they will get for 2 years, they will also get government funded schooling (TRA) for two years. They will pay for them to get educated. This is something I received back in 2000 when my company closed its doors due to losing its contract with GM. I didn't get 85%, only the unemployment (that also has to have taxes taken out). I have been in GM in Janesville, Flint, and Silao Mexico. I was in Zachow's at break time to see what happens there. (I did not drink, we just wanted to see it firsthand). I know for a fact that the work at Chrysler was some of the easiest, and cleanest (and overpaid) work that I have ever experienced. Sure there are tough jobs, but the Union did its best to limit those. I feel sorry for the GM workers, but they are in for a real shock when they leave there. Just start now and prepare for your future instead of remembering days gone by. I supported my family just fine after my layoff, they will too if they make it a priority. These people have more in life to start with than I did, so it should be a much easier battle for them. I worry more about the people at Lear (similar to what I did), and LSI, etc. These are the ones that have decent paychecks, but not huge ones. But if I did it, they can too!

For all of you who posted constructive comments... THANK YOU! For those of you who didn't... GROW UP! The same people are always posting negative comments on the GM articles. Personally, if I was so sick of hearing about something, I definitely wouldn't be reading about it --- BY CHOICE. And if you thinking that there is nothing else to read and GM news is always in the Gazette, well, that is because GM news is local news. May be you "Negative Nancies" are the ones who need to GET OVER IT! Thanks again for all of those who are constructive. I enjoy reading your opinions when they have validity and/or are backed up by facts.

First I have heard of additional layoffs....hmm nobody told us today. Hey Gazette, can you tell us what summer help will be doing when we go back in July or even where we are supposed to report?

People really need to ignore anything ever commented on by Janesvillehero. I'm sure that someday "what goes around comes around" will come back around and bite him in his insensitive, overinflated ego. Won't he be shocked when the same people he has been insulting turn around and help him out of a situation anyway, when he was inconvienced and probably unwilling to help others when they were losing their jobs, homes or businesses due to a June that will go down in the history books.

I'm not a GM hater, I feel for all of you. You are going to lose your job, period. It's not the end of the world though and certainly not the end of Janesville. Get up, get prepared and motivated and find something else. That's what anyone else would do. Janesville will go through a rough period and will have little if any growth for a while but to say the city will die when GM leaves is ridiculous. If people were as concerned about the flooding as they are about GM we could have the entire shore of the Rock river sand bagged. I wish all of you GM employees the best but at some point you're going to have to try and move on.

i agree with you unidentified people JUST DONT GET IT!!

I wanted to check the site for news on the flooding and what is making headlines??? - GM! ENOUGH ABOUT STUPID GM!!!!! STOP WRITING ABOUT IT!!!! Of course we care that people are going to be out of work - but millions of people are losing jobs everyday - it should NOT make front page news when half of the downtown is in danger of flooding or already is flooded. Don't bother responding to this post because I am done reading about STUPID GM!!!!!!!!

I think many people don’t realize that for one, Lear and other suppliers do NOT get sub pay. Secondly, even the GM workers who do get sub pay, this does not include taxes, which have to be taken out of that unemployment and sub pay. The net result for any of these workers is a huge difference in pay. However, regardless of the specifics this is tough for anyone to have to go through, especially in a suppressed job market. What compounds the issue is that several other large good paying employers have laid off recently (Gilman for example). If it were just GM and its subsidiaries it would be tough, but bearable, but with additional layoffs and cut backs in the area (Mercy has a hiring freeze), there just isn’t much work out there. The retail business that Janesville considers its diversity will not sustain this local economy. Local, State, and possibly federal representatives will have to work together to fill the void left by Americans disappearing manufacturing base. To those who act as though it will not affect them, check your property values in a few years when this is all final and get back to me on that.

JanesvilleHero: I personally think you should be renamed JanesvilleBozo. You say that you wouldn't normally care about the flood victims? Do you not have ANY compassion or humanity in you? You only care because your employees are being affected therefore inconveniencing YOU! I'm pretty sure there are MORE GM workers without a pond on their land than with. The only way you are a hero is if hero stands for: Has an Ego that's Really Obnoxious.
.
I beginning to wonder if GM will still be functioning after shut down in 2 weeks.

JanesvilleHero, I find your comment rude. Why would you say that workers at GM are lazy and overpaid? They are paid what their union negotiated for them and that GM approved. And I seriously doubt that you have spent any time at GM to see how much work they actually do in a 10 hour shift! I could never work there and deal with the monotony and repetiion of factory work.

As for your concern for the flood victims, your sincerity is underwhelming. Obviously, that time in your office that you are spending is not working but reading and responding to the blogs.

sunnyday this is back to you: I do have a life, & live a very comfortable happy one. I am far from jealous of any GM worker who has been handed a silver platter by the UAW.
How do you know I have a job??
I strictly voiced my opinion.
I do understand they are losing their jobs that they use to support their families. If they can't support their families with 85% of their income they budgeted way too close to the end of their checkbook.
I'm going now to get over it.

SK and all of the professional "opinionators" out there..... what would you suggest these employees do? Tell GM and the union, no that's okay, we'll just live off the land now?
People put themselves in the positions they're in! You take what you have coming and move on! Whether you're one of the jealous anti-GM intellects or just a negative person period, make your own bed. There isn't one person bickering about the GM benefits that wouldn't take the same benefits themselves! If you say you wouldn't, you're lying! Take what you can get now because in the corporate world, those things are coming to an end. People need to start getting educated as to what's out there before they get totally left behind! Uncle Sam won't come to the resuce either. We owe it to ourselves to make it happen in our lives!
There's plenty of opportunity out there, go find it like I did! I'm not anything special or above average smart! I just chose to "dig my well before I got thirsty". I could've stuck around GM for another year or so, but, I could see the writing on the wall and I wanted no part of it. My life isn't going to be dictated by GM or any other corporate American company that could give a rats hind end about the workers! Loyalty gets you nowhere in the corporate world. Look around you! Stop whining and go out and make it happen. The GM employees paid their union dues every month and are entitled to the benefits they have coming! If you don't agree, stop paying your insurance premiums and see if the insurer pays you when you have a claim down the road! Get a clue people.

Oh, come on. I'm so sick of hearing people say "every business in Janesville is going to go down because GM is leaving." Give me a break. Not every company in this city is reliant on GM. 30 years ago, certainly. But not now. In reality, there are many more that have nothing to do with the auto industry than ones that do...

I bet you wont be saying gm nonsense when your business goes down along with all the other business in this town because of gm.

I'm sure these employees are living high above the flooded areas where the REAL workers of Janesville live. Does anyone really care about overpaid lazy workers when struggling families are being displaced because of flooding? I don't. Normally I wouldn't care about flood victims either. But some of my employees have been affected and I need them to get back to work. So let's focus on this water mess and move past the whole GM nonsense. I'm spending way too much time in office lately and I've got a flooded pond on my land I need to work on.

That's right, Stacey (thank you!) The sub-pay that the employees are going to get is paid to them from UAW reserve funds.

sk this is to you... Do you not understand that it is not as easy as you are making it out to be? People are loosing their jobs and have families and they are loosing income that they use to support their families. It just sounds to me like you are jealous of the workers that they make more money than you. I think you should get over it and go on with your life and be happy you still have YOUR JOB.

all this means is that the 96 people their going to keep for summer help will be layed off in sept. comment from SK thats not GM.thats what UAW NEGOITIATED for us.

Before all of you start crying in your milk for them...don't worry. I'm sure they will be handed the same golden spoon where they will get 85% of their wages for I believe 2 years. Then they get something more after that. I'm not 100% sure about the health insurance, but I'm sure those still buying GM cars will be footing the bill for that also.
And they all have the opportunity to transfer to another plant.
Now, anyone out there that can tell me any other company that gives the employees they let go 1/2 as much as this let me know because I'll go work there.