ap2533jvl,

You cannot generalize that the only greed comes from corporate. That union of yours is pretty damn greedy too. It is partly because of the greed of your union that Toyota has gained such a large percentage of market share on GM. You can't put 100% of the fault on Detroit. They are by a long shot responsible for a lot the loss in market share, but the union makes them pay for things Toyota doesn't even think about.

There will be no "merging". The talks are on hold until "markets stabalize", whenever that is. Chrysler doesn't need more manufacturing capacity. They have a factory down the road that isn't even operating at full capacity.

The "merging" talk is just a bunch of smoke to try and stop the share price plunge.

maybe they could bring in a chrysler product when the two merge.

Before anyone jumps on me ,yes I can read.The headlines may say CLOSE,but the workers are being told this plant will be idled.It's not over for Janesville yet !!With the deal that was offered to GM to retool this plant they are not that dumb to not give it a hard look and turn the deal down.Remember there's a lot of steel in this plant:).It's my opinion that the workforce will be very different as we know it now,Janesville has gotten a lot of(for a better word)pilot programs.I just think for all that have a stake in this plant ,it's going to work out for all in the end.

A poster asked, "After GM files bankruptcy, which will allow it to get, rid of its pension and retiree health responsibilities who will pay for the bypass surgeries, the knee replacements, and the chemotherapy? Mercy and Dean better wake up."

Well, it would seem to me that they would have to do what everyone else has to do. There are hardly no employers other than G.M. who pay for retires health care- post retirement.

I seem to remember the Gazette publishing an article citing research by a UW economics professor back in June when the plant closing was first announced. The professor, using some specialized forecasting software, determined the final job loss to Rock County when GM closed to be around 10,000 jobs--but it was based on a December 2010 closure date. I suspect the hit will be worse, as there is 2 less years to absorb the loss.

Would the Gazette please recontact the good professor for an update?

Its over.You dont have Kolhl,Ryan,ect.ect..
making press releases not to mention the canidates if it wasnt.
These people dont want to look like idiots.
It was leaked for good or bad and its no use
arguing about it.
Now all your going to get is YES there still loving and looking at are package(Dont blame us we tried)
GM is damn close to bankruptsy and theres no package in the world that will save the Janesville plant.

Let’s stop pointing fingers and start asking the tough questions. 1) After GM files bankruptcy, which will allow it to get, rid of its pension and retiree health responsibilities who will pay for the bypass surgeries, the knee replacements, and the chemotherapy? Mercy and Dean better wake up. 2) How will retirees be able to survive on social security alone? 3) What will Janesville do with a superabundance of housing on the market, all of it overpriced? 4) Who will pay city salaries when families start defaulting on their property tax bills and city revenues fall far short of those needed to provide basic services? 5) With no middle class left who will be able to afford SUV’s, McHomes, expensive subdivisions, private school, and college? Maybe those employed by the new super Wall Mart and Sams Club? After asking the above questions I’d think about coming up with answers to those questions. It will take a lot of people thinking “outside the box” to address the hard times ahead.

I can't wait to view the postings on this website a year from now. I am sure all the GM-Haters will be struggling to make ends meat and look upon the good old days when GM was around. If you post anything pro-GM Closing, you are in for a shock in regards to the Janesville economy. Furthermore your $8/hr job won't pay your bills. And if you were lucky enough to get a subprime loan, you will probably be forclosed on because you won't be able to sell your house with all the others for sale.

GM can accelerate the closing all they want...but they still have to abide by the Wisconsin law and give them 60 days notice. With Ohio closing on December 23 (and GM passing up HUGE tax breaks, incentives and grants) I suspect GM will close Janesville December 23 as well and make that announcement within the next week.
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I hope everyone directly and indirectly affected comes out of this ok. It will take time. :(

"IT'S OFFICIAL"....That was the headline on the front page of Saturdays gazette. And this is what it takes for the gazette to call it official: "Rumors have circulated that GM officials will visit Janesville next week and deliver the news that SUV production will end here in December." and: "A (un-named)person with knowledge of the company’s plans said Friday that GM is likely to announce further production cuts and speed up its planned closing of plants—including the one in Janesville—as early as next week." That is not "official" if you ask me.

I worked at the plant, and this how the workers got their information, from reading the Gazette. If you asked the union rep what was going on, all you would get was "we don't know", but the Gazette did. For example, check out the Local 95 website. You would think they would mention something.
Good luck to my fellow workers- maybe I will see you at Blackhawk Tech.

They're building 3 factories overseas right now- 2 in India and 1 engine plant in Thailand. These are countries where $.50 an hour is standard. Should we work for that? How many more of our benefits should we give away? Ryan working on behalf of GM workers? WHen and where?

Believe nothing that you hear, and half of what you see! The American people are not affraid of what they know, they are affraid of what they don't know. At this point we don't know alot, let-alone most companies or other people in high places don't know either. Such a sad situation we are in.

Offer to work for less money. Stop trying (local 95) to rape the company that give you jobs. Are all GM workers really that dumb? Your all going to have a rude awaking when your introduced to wages that most of us uneducated and educated make. Make the cars trucks affordable too there's a concept Factory work is hard work I understand that but what about the rest of Janesville that works for peanuts and make more important product that gas guzzling suvs.

Face it, the greed of the workers, UAW and GM made this happen. Also, someone please tell the Obama and McCain Wisconsin offices to spare us these pandering press releases written by a 20 year old campaign intern. Both of the candidates could care less about the workers unless it meant getting votes.

Good greif.................we go from a leaked announcment about GM to 5 million $ middle income to Illegals in less than 25 comments. I'm so impressed. I thought this blog was about the plant closing....... this almost sounds like a .......nope aint gonna go there
hope everyone STAY'S SAFE!!
P.S. I'm sorry for all effected by the soon closing of the plant here in JVL.

I heard the city of Milwaukee is looking for a police officer to replace the illegal alien from Mexico they were forced to fire after verifying he was indeed an illegal alien from Mexico. Do you suppose the displaced Janesville GM workers could go to Mexico to replace all the illegal aliens taking jobs up here in Wisconsin? Start looking at all the illegals employed in Whitewater, Delavan and Madison.

lets export 3 million good tax paying jobs and import 3 million people,should work good -ha

famof5: I agree, it's hard on adults that understand the situation. But for kids? I've been there. My dad was commuting Cleveland to Chicago from the time I was born to the time I was 11 years old. We were finally given the go-ahead as it was FINALLY a for sure thing that he was staying up in Chicago. For 11 years I had to say goodbye to my friends! It stinks big time for kids!

Just a reminder who seems to think that middle class is 5 million a year income. (McCain said so on his first interview with that church minister).. So when you vote Nov. 4th, think about who is now running this country into the ground and decide if you want 4 more years of this!!!! If 5 mil is middle class, us UAW are really PO FOLK!!!!

I feel for all the employee's from every company that is affecting. But I feel most for are the children. Our kids had to just say good-bye's to all there friends they have known all there lives because my husband is losing his job. we had to move to another state and it has been very hard on the children. He isn't getting anything from his company that gm had in there. So all you gm bashers just remember it will affect the whole community. Young,old, all ages.

Quote...“We have nothing to announce at this point in time. When we do, we will tell our employees first, after which we will share that information with the rest of the world,” Lee said.

Once again the GM workers heard it first through the grape vine instead of from their employer because it was leaked.

This is very sad, but I have to say that the politician that comes out the best about this issue is Doyle, a man who I had hitherto not especially liked. Our federal representatives from Ryan to Baldwin to Kohl (but not Feingold) supported the bail-out. Imagine what that money could have done to help our local communities, whether it was given to development of an effective automobile battery, to improve and maintain our infrastrucutre, or to help bail-out home-owners and thus address the underlying economic basis of the crisis.

GM employees will have it much easier than others affected by this for the next two years with unemployment and the sub pay. On the other hand, Leer, Allied and all the other companies' employees that depend on GM for business are going to be hurting and many already have been for awhile.

From what I've read, Cerberus wanted to trade Chrysler's auto operations in exchange for the rest of GMAC (Cerberus currently owns 51% of GMAC). The talks have been ongoing for a year, but are now stalled. This is a non-story.

"The talks have stalled because of the recent turmoil in the financial markets, according to the Journal. Its sources said negotiations could resume if markets stabilize because both GM and Cerberus want to quickly divest the assets under discussion."
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081011/gm_chrysl...

GM has a concept vehicle touring the auto show market. It's called the Cruze. If they would get that car into production, along with the Volt and revamp their big SUVs (aka Orlando--hopefully they ditch the Aztec'esque backend) and add another nicely styled with high quality and dependability gas efficient sedan: they WILL rebound.
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In the interim, we bought 100 shares of the "junk" stock on this premise.

"What does Chrysler have that GM doesn't?"
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Cash.
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No, I'm not making a quip. GM's cash account is probably going to be zeroed out by the end of 2009 if not sooner. They don't expect sales to improve by then and they have a fixed set of obligations. The cash would come from Cerberus Capital. The end result will probably be a major shedding of nameplates and plants by the combined company.

Obama will tax these greeedy corporations and bring back jobs to Wisconsin

Actually, the government just gave the Big 2.8 $25 BILLION in loans to restructure.

Maybe if Feingold was not the guy that tried to stop the auto bail out Janesville might have had a chance. They in Detroit know who their friends are . GM will make sure they can build Suburbans somewhere else just in case, probably Flint or Pontiac. Loony eco nutty democratcs with their CAFE laws are not blameless in this. Astounding The UAW continues to support these people with members money

Again, unfortunately for the families, GM WILL be gone by the end of the year.

christmas is shot this year no more GM and the 27 plus an hour job's are gone

I have a hard time seeing how a merger would be benefitial to GM. What does Chrysler have that GM doesn't?

If GM were to merge with Chrysler, reports say talks have been held, that would give GM two assembly plants in close proximity, Janesville and Belvidere. Would that have a positive or negative impact on Janesville getting a new product line? Interesting possibilities.

You both said it. Sad times and a snapshot of the national economy. Right on the head.

In the spirit of the misquouted quote of all time, "what is good for America is good for GM".

As America goes, so does GM. It is a snapshot of the national economy.

Sad times.