Which begs a comment from me.
All of us here have now watched a friend go through a career loss.
And it has obviously moved some of us.
IMAGINE how it is inside the walls of Ford, GM, Chrysler?!?!
Imagine how it is inside the walls of any supplier - tier I, tier II or otherwise, where hundreds are walked out at a time?!?!

I have been working like a gold miner with a spook chasing me for the last 6 months to execute a consolidation at my company (that's the politically-correct word for "plant closing"). I am - in some way - facilitating the loss of some 250 workers at our plant that is being closed to consolidate operations under one roof. I have been to the plant that is being closed, and the more I go there, the more it hurts me. 2 plants operating at 40-50% capacity, all the overhead, building payments, top-salaries, etc... it just won't fly, so our B.O.D. says, "One must go."

These are GOOD PEOPLE. Nobody in that plant (or community) deserves what is happening - they did nothing wrong. In fact, they were awarded the top supplier award from Chrysler for 2008 a few weeks after the announcement was made (that went over real well too BTW). I know these people, their kids, their spouses, their hobbies, and everything. I know them better than I know PacerX for sure, but it all seems to go into the same pool of blood.

These folks CARE about their work, their product, and making parts here in the USA, the right way, with pride.

There are so many that want to do a good job and care about what they do, yet so many of the ones that care are being let go along with the dead-turds that should have been cut even when times were good.

Folks, I literally know 243 people that have lost their jobs since last August in two states, and all are automotive-related.
Fbodfather - you know this well, we have had personal communications about this very issue.
IT SUX. IT HURTS. IT CUTS. I can't say that I have totally depressed myself and lose nights of sleep over it, but I certainly have lost a few, and I am trying to deal with the lost friendships and comradery as best I can.

Keep these folks in your minds, thoughts, prayers, or whatever is sacred to you. Most don't need or want sympathy - just appreciation for what they have tried to accomplish.
Then remember these folks when you go to buy your next car, truck, microwave, stereo, pants, shirt, shoes, computer, printer, tools, etc, etc.
I realize that these economic conditions will continue to come and go, but this is one of the worst we have had in many years, and the shameful part is that we allowed this to happen to this extreme.
WE MUST WAKE UP, AND BECOME A UNIFIED NATION THAT LOOKS OUT FOR OUR OWN AGAIN.

Thanks, and best of luck to you again Dan. Hit 'em hard when you land!
PP

 

Pacer,

Im sorry to hear about your job man. I hope things turn out for you.

That should be a wake up call to cut the ones that should be cut even when times are good. Too many times Ive seen managment incapable of doing just that and then me personally having to save reputation by cleaning up after that person. If youre in management for god sakes cut the dead weight or eventually theyll take us down with them. Ive seen it and heard the excuses in disbelief from management not wanting to appear as the bad guy. Bad workers still cary the brand name in the work they do, and if its not good quality than the brand for that work is a brand of low quality.

 

Best wishes for the future, Pacer. I hope you're not switching fields due to being unable to find a job in autos, but I fear that is probably the case.

I was just reading a story last night in Collectible Automobile about the Pacer and it's sporty model, the Pacer X. An interesting car....

 

CNN.com just recently did an article on companies that have NEVER had a layoff. I think it is possible to do for any company, if it is managed right. It might require wage cuts, relocation, benefit reductions, and other things that would be tough to take, but it would be better than losing a job. Companies usually aren't shocked to find out that sales are down. They have forecasts and projections that will predict when times will be tough. They should be able to use this to gradually reduce workforces when necessary through attrition, early retirements, or other less painful methods.

 

My point for the quote, precisely. They could save the good ones and have more efficiency to boot if they would have made some ballsy decisions when times were good. But then again, if they made all good decisions, even this economic downturn would not be such an issue for them I suppose.

One other hypocritical mantra that needs to be removed from the American landscape...
Ever go into a company and see that banner in the lobby that says, "Our people are our best asset." or something similar? WTF. Is that a typo?
Should it say, "Our CEO and his staff are our best asset." ?
Or maybe , "Our top 3 levels of management are our best asset." ?
Seems like those are the ones that are always last to go, but often are the ones that made the decisions that led the company into dire conditions in the first place.

I have become cynnical when I go to a company and see those types of banners or see that verbiage in company mission statements anymore. I instantly make the assumption that the folks who have made those banners/statement have no idea how to run a business - OR - they are shysters that play the old marketing game in which you tell anyone anything they want to hear to make them feel good about doing business with you.

I know - I have a bad attitude... but it has come from so many years of seeing heartless decisions ruin so many peoples' lives. I long for the days of a company that TRUELY looked out for their employees, and the employees were incorruptibly loyal to their company in return. It really did used to be that way in many companies.