What happened to "buy American"? GM opens a plant in Mexico, preaches "buy American" and now people here are losing their jobs? That does not seem like a good situation for the American people. I back the people of GM and Leer 100%. I hope they learned a skill in their years at Lear to fall back on. Good luck folks, my prayers are with you and your families.

Depending on your line of work will depend on how much further education you need. Not all additional training requires 2 or more years of school - short term training certificates are out there in jobs that are more stable and pay well( welding, cnc programming, heavy equiptment operator,etc. and yes trucking) as far as paying for training - there is a program with job service at the job center that may be able to pay for part or all of your training. I encourage anyone who is layed off to call or stop by there and get more information. Not everyone can afford to go to school and not work or work part time, but its worth checking into.

I went back to school during a time that my company was not stable and I was newly married with a family. I was, as we have been discussing trying to do what I needed to try and create a sense of stability for my family.
I guess I am hung up on the term "deserve". Education, or as I see it additional knowledge is always a good thing in any situation. Your chances of stability increase when you have addtional knowledge because it is a tool and additional tools always help.
IMHO a degree will get you an interview...What you do will get you stability.

benthinkin: I agree hard working individuals are successful even without a degree. However when trying to get a job, education helps get your foot in the door. Let me ask you this, why did you go back to school? My guess is that you were a hard working individual before you went back? What was the main reason for your education? What is your degree in? Their must have been a reason that you decided to go back?

JQ, I am curious as to why a well educated had working person deserves something over a non-well educated person who is equally hard working?
The way I see it if you are hard working you will create your stability. That way you don't have to demand it.

I have been on both sides of education. I also have seen many instances where people are successful because of an education, and successful without any higher education.
I always see the same in the success stories...
The people who are successful are hard working with a combination of creativity and logic that helps them. I am glad I went back to get an education, but, higher education in itself does nothing, it is what you do or don't do with your knowledge that determines your success.
The fact that you have higher education does not give you any right to deserve stability.

I agree college is not for everyone, However I believe some type of higher education is essential for everyone to help find a more stable job! You're right, sometimes the cost of education is not the most viable option. However it creates more opportunities to find employment.

Everybody deserves stability in their job. However, whether or not you get that stability centers on more than being "well educated". Higher education come with a hefty price tag and some feel that is not an option.

benthinkin: Are you saying that well educated people, who do work hard at their jobs do not deserve some stability in their job? This should be true in every profession. Everyone has the option to become receive a higher education. My point is that people with a higher education probably have more stability in their jobs. Do you agree or disagree with that statement?

For anyone who undervalues the importance of GM in this community, look at what slowing down the line has done to 100 good workers at Lear. Now think of what would happen if GM closed. There are bitter people out there, and I can't blame them, but the fact is that GM is still important. I hope we all realize this next time we go buy that Nissan or Toyota. Best of luck to you and I hope that some day GM can return to 50 hr weeks and full capacity.

"Teachers deserve more stability"...No one deserves it. You create your stability by hard work, planning and continually adjusting to the future needs and living below your means.
Deserve I don't get

whatsinaname: You're right if teachers are that well schooled they will not have as difficult of a time finding another job. However my point is teachers deserve some stability because of their education. This is not necessarily true in the education profession anymore because to the budget cuts. I do wish everyone at Lear who is getting laid off the best of luck in their future endeavors. I hope things work out for all of you!

if your that well schooled then you wouldnt have to look long for a new job.

whatsinaname: The SDJ is cutting 2 million dollars once again this year. Some teachers will also lose their jobs!
If people think teachers have it so great then why don't they go to a 4 year college and get and education degree. After that they can then get their master's degree in order to make $40000.00 a year.

was in a the machinists union once. good job - 80 year old company. went on strike for 3 months after there for 4 years. militant union - very hostile to managment. company merged with (actualy sold to) a company in michigan during the strike. got laid off after 6 years. told by the steward that he couldnt help me till i had more senority. company closed down a few years later. I feel bad for those who are losing your jobs. its no fun having no place to go and having nothing to do and no money to do it with. the teachers should see how lucky they are not to have to face this, then maybe they wouldnt be so mad.

chelleandlou: What are your two associate degrees in?

chelleandlou- don't go foriegn. try a ford or chrysler product. we still need to support american made. just don't support GM.

Strike a nerve did I? I have two associate degrees neither of them is worth the paper they're printed on. Like I said, a degree will NOT guarantee you a job. Want my benefits..I pay for my own health insurance which is over $300/mo not to mention the $2500/year deductible and the $25/visit co-pay. No vision, no dental, no disability. I'm just saying, that you're going to have a rude awakening. And you're right, money isn't everything. Go ahead see if you qualify for state aid, you'll soon find out you don't get hand outs like you used to. I was lucky I ever got medical and food stamps and the only reason I did was because I had a 'qualifying' child. Because of my degrees I didn't get a check every month. I didn't qualify, but at that time I couldn't find a job either...oh yeah AND I was a full time student with a mortgage to pay...by the way...I couldn't pay so the foreclosure and bankruptcy I've already gone thru won't gain you any sympathy from me.

Oh and sluggo...I live in the real world. Bitter? No. I know how hard it is to try and get a job. And the past few years in Rock County have been pretty slim pickens. Try and pay rent, utilities, food, school fees, clothing for children, etc. on 40 hrs a week at $8 an hour. I'm saying if people think they are gonna lose their jobs at GM or Lear and be able to find a job anywhere else with the same or comparable benefits and pay they're not being realistic.

I stayed at a job I hated for seven years because of money, best thing that ever happened was leaving that job.

Oh yeah, and since I'm so jealous and hate GM I guess I should get rid of the GM product that I drive..and buy a Jap model. I've never owned or driven anything but GM product, may be its time to reconsider......

I used to work at TNT till they lost their contract and LSI moved in. I decided to take the dislocated workers program. I looked at it as an opprotunity to better myself. They paid up to $3500, and my schooling was about $9000. I was told that I would have unemployment for up to 2 years because of the program and after 6 months I was told that the state was not currently offering the extended unemployment, so make sure to check into that. I only had 6 months left of schooling at that point so I lived with it. I think if anyone has the opprotunity to go back to school and better themselves it is never a bad thing. Money isn't everything. If you can find a job doing something you really like, it makes life so much more enjoyable.

blackmach1, just a fair warning on the "schooling". I was at a company that closed down. We were elegible for the "free schooling". Went to take the 'test' at the unemployment office and sure enough. They had TRUCK DRIVER in every category and unless it was something that could be had cheap (ie under $1700) and done quickly (6 weeks or less) thats the extent of "free schooling" they offer. When I chose a course (mech design) that was on the list, thats what the fat ass at the unemployement office said to me "has to be able to be completed in 6 weeks. Unles you are 6 weeks from graduating that class already...".

As for hating GM. Well I have my own reasons. Had enough of their workers look down their noses at me like they are so much better than everyone else. That and their cars and trucks are so damn plasticy and bland its silly.

Ty Blackmach, you have a grip on this. I like how you said "it was a good ride"...but all good rides do have to come to an end. You've got the right idea..go to school and get a degree. It may not pay what you're used to, but if that is your goal---GO FOR IT. Best wishes to you and all those affected by this layoff.

chelleanlou you sure are a cup of sunshine! Bitter are we?

chelleandlou:I am far from whinning,I am looking forward to a life-changing event.everyone always "hates" on GM and affiliates(probably becayse they could'nt get hired themselves).the money is great,dont get me wrong,but money is not everything.I would bet anything that you would quit a job like this in the first day because of the real work that some of these jobs reqiure.I've seen many people over the years quit because its simply too hard to keep up.most people really do EARN their money at these places.
are you saying that I shouild just go on state aid instead of school?thats what it sounds like to me.if you wanna pay for me to live,thats fine with me.
if they called you monday to start working at lear or GM,I bet you would RUN right there and try to work.
pay is at the low end of a "trade",the high end for high school grads.its simply an entry level job in the UNSKILLED area.benefits are good,but so is badgercare.since I am offered schooling,I am taking it!
there are plenty of jobs out there,so finding one is not a problem.I'm not looking for a job,I'm going to get a degree in a specific field/with a 2yr associates degree.with these in hand,I suppose getting employed will be much easier than without the degree.
whatever happens,I am thankful that I am getting a chance to get out of the factory and into something else.a lot of you people complain about money but are too stupid to do anything about it.too afraid to get into something new.

I grew up on welfare,so I know whats important in life,and its not how much money you make or how good your benefits are.there is more to life than income....

This is only the beginning....

Good luck finding a job that will pay you what GM does not to mention the benefits. You whine and cry now but let me tell you..you don't know how good you have it with pay and benefits at GM. And going to school won't guarantee you a job either.

This is so sad - my prayers are going out to these families. We got hit in the first round of layoffs and it has not been easy. How many total layoffs now since last January?

the meeting on friday lasted 1/2 hour.they are paying us 4 hrs overtime for telling us how to file for unemployment!they are not worried at all about cost(obviously).GM is taking over LSI in july.we are on a PERMANENT layoff!but we will receive TRA_benefits(paid unemployment and schooling for 2 yrs...).
on a seperate note,the snow storm the other day:GM was waiting for a supplier to shut them down on wednesday so they could fine the supplier to offset their cost off shutting down for 1 day! they do not care about the people who make them their money!I for one cannot wait to go back to school and get rid of the physical pain from working this kind of job.
the local economy WILL feel this as I personaly know of about 40 people whi will be filing for bankruptcy.AS I am one of them....
eight years was a good ride,now its time to buy an import to support our overseas competitors.remember people,BUY FORIEGN=your job counts on it!