FORD CUTBACKS AND CLOSINGS

[weasel]

Is anyone affected by this? After GM and my layoff last year I feel for em' Hope no one here has to go thru this.

[mikeschn]

You probably already know but my layoff was from GM two weeks ago.

I'm glad my father is retired or he may have been affected.

Otherwise, I don't know anyone who is affected...

But I can certainly feel for them... these layoffs are going to kill incomes for families, incomes for complete communities... And the only hope for many of these people is to relocate to other places in the country where they will be happy to take a job at a fraction of what they were making.

The automobile was just a part of the industrial revolution that made this country great. We are now seeing that advantage slip to other nations... We will never be the same again.

Mike...

[weasel]

My bro-laws both work at Lockheed in Ft. Worth, one missed a layoff by 40 #. They wanted us to sell and move close to them. But with the kids stuff at school it would have been hard. Made a livin' bfore the big $ and can do it again!! Good luck with your interveiw!!

[oklahomajewel]

I'm in Midwest City, and the GM plant that was announced to be closing (announced about a month ago?) is right here near my 'burb of OKC.
I know of one person for sure who works there, and his kids are grown, I'm not sure what his plans will be.

Good luck to everybody!

[Spadinator]

I feel for those who are loosing their jobs to lay offs. I lost my job twice in a 6 month period from McDonnel/Douglas in the early nineties to lay offs. I haven't worked in the aviation industry since then. Good luck on the job interviews!!!!

[mikeschn]

FWIW, I watched an hour on TV this morning of Bill Ford, and his two top guys talk....

I compared it to the talk the Rick Wagner had on TV a number of weeks ago...

I can tell you that Bill Ford, and in particular Mark Fields did a much better job of defining the future path than Rick Wagner did.

The automotive industry is certain to cast a veil of gloom over Michigan for a number of years to come, but if Ford can practice what it preached today, it stands a better chance than GM to survive.

Good thing we are off topic eh?

BTW, for those of you who are wondering how my interview turned out today... I'll tell you... nothing definite yet...

They loved my modeling portfolio... they really got a kick out of my teardrop portfolio... but the guy that makes the decisions is in Japan this week...

So nothing yet...

Mike...

[Steve_Cox]

Been through the downsizings and plant closing thing myself. At least the hourly auto workers have a good union that has supported them. They will get about 90% pay after the closings until the contract runs out in 2007, that plus benifits gives them about $100,000 or more worth of protection (wages/benifits) and little over a year to figure out what to do. Unfortunately theywill never again make the hourly wage they were making. Not in the New Economy, heck they couldn't make the wages they were used to even if they had 3 or 4 McJobs. The salaried guys, now that's another story, if they can't bridge to retirement they are out of luck, but a lot of them will find jobs in the company some place else rather than terminate.

The distance between the working men and women in this country and the wealthy elete is growing at an unblievable rate. If this wholesale destruction of middle America continues as it is, I predict I will live to see a revolution in this country. (Stepping off the soapbox)

Steve

[mikeschn]

I believe that... (we are still off topic, right???)

Mike...

. If this wholesale destruction of middle America continues as it is, I predict I will live to see a revolution in this country. (Stepping off the soapbox)

Steve

[Steve_Cox]

I believe that... (we are still off topic, right???)

Mike...

. If this wholesale destruction of middle America continues as it is, I predict I will live to see a revolution in this country. (Stepping off the soapbox)

Steve

Way off to the left Mike..

Steve

[billnut]

Dam i'm happy tobe a Old curmudgeon
and retired!!
Bill

[anonymous2]

Well this will draw more fire then the fires of hell. Sorry about the loss of your jobs guys. But you can blame the car companies ,and unions for shooting themselves in the foot. For years we paid someone $25 + an hour to screw on a bolt,and half the time it wasn't tight. Along came foriegn cars that were well built,reliable,used the highest technology. Americans want QUALITY for their money,and drifted to forigen cars.Even AMERICAN car companies used foreign parts because they were cheaper,and better quality. Now you are hard pressed to find an American car without foreign parts. Foreign car makers listened to their buyers,and designed their cars with them in mind,while Detroit shoved butt ugly cars at America,and expected them to buy it{remember the Aztec & others}. Sales of American cars dropped,and foriegn took off. A fact that the American car companies find a tough act to follow. Ford finally dropped the Taurus because it was just plain boring ,and Camary,and Accord changed with the times,and people bought em. I have had both American,and foreign,and I must say I have far fewer problems with the foreign cars. My last American vehicle was a 1996 Chevy S-10 ,and in the 9 months I owned it it was recalled 2 times,in the shop 10 times for MAJOR repairs. I went foreign,and never looked back. I know this is not good for America,but my hard earned money wants QUALITY,and RELIABILITY. Now foreign manufactures are making Hybrid cars,and America laughed,but now are trying to catch up again.

I was let go years ago because of foreign steel,and I am not bitter ,because it was better,and better sells. Fact of life !

pateardropper

[TomS]

...I went foreign,and never looked back. I know this is not good for America,but my hard earned money wants QUALITY,and RELIABILITY. Now foreign manufactures are making Hybrid cars,and America laughed,but now are trying to catch up again.

Our family switched from GM to Toyota a few years ago. The reason is quality. Japanese cars, Toyota and Honda in particular, have a well-earned reputation for reliability. Our two Toyotas have been very reliiable.

Buying a car represents a huge investment. For most people, it involves financing 6-9 months gross pay over 4 to 6 years. It's the second largest purchase most people will ever make. Personally, I can't afford to buy a car that might not outlive the loan I have to take out to buy it.

Another factor affecting the automotive industry are interest rates. For that last few years, the industry gorged itself on cut-rate financing. Everyone who wanted or needed a car bought one. Now, with interest rates climbing, cars sales are waning.

I hope things turn-around for Mike. I've been laid-off due to industry upheavals and/or corporate mis-management. It sucks. Especially when you work really hard and find yourself out pounding the pavement through no fault of your own.

It's economic Darwinism out there. Those that adapt to changing envoirments survive. I know, I've changed careers twice and I'm only 45. Ford and GM had better learn to change, or they too will be going the way of the dinosaur.

[Hardin Valley Magic]

Just a word handed down from my father. "Things don't look good son for the future of what we do for a living."
We are in construction and he has been in the business of building since the mid 60's. He recalls the late 70's early 80's and the automotive business started to drop as it is doing now and the housing market soon followed. Me, being of just 31 yrs old don't remember it. Just thats when he lost his main job and started doing small jobs just to make enough to support a family of 4.
I hope it doesn't repeat history again. But it seems to cycle ever so many years.
So for all those affected I hope things get better. And that goes esp. for you to Mike!! Best of luck.

[Chris C]

Hang in there Mike. I'm sure your world must look pretty shi##y right now, but things will turn around for you. You've a good head on your shoulders and someone will notice that and reward you for it. Keep the faith. We're all pulling for you.

[ARKPAT]

I too like the rest of you have changed careers 4 time in the past 20 years . Each one started downsizing or the economy at the time or interest rates stiffled the market. I hope you fair well in the job market you have many skills to draw from. I know as a designer ( draftsman / electronics tech ) the job is not always plain in the description from the recruting listings you have to get past them.
I was told by my parents to develope as many skills as you can; you will need thru life. That no one can take that from you; as you can draw from them when needed and always add to them with other skills learned.