Life after GM
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One year later
It's been almost a year since SUV production ended in Janesville, triggering layoffs that staggered Rock County. What's happened in the last year to the thousands of workers displaced by the end of production at General Motors and its supplier plants?
Actually, quite a lot, and not all of it has matched the doom and gloom some people predicted.
Sunday: When the benefits end, the local economy will crash. It's a broad statement made by many, but it's based on a premise that's difficult to pin down. Just when will the benefits end, and when can the community expect to see a peak of economic hardship?
Monday: Hundreds of former workers at the Janesville GM plant now are commuting to other plants, plants referred to as "Janesville South," "Janesville West" and "Janesville East." The decisions to transfer were painful and life-altering, but those who made them say it was the right thing to do for their families.
Today: Transferring to another plant wasn't an option for hundreds of local workers, particularly those who didn't work at GM. With high hopes for new careers, many have instead decided to go to school under retraining programs for dislocated workers.
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Former Lear seating employee Ray Huntoon works on his math lessons in between classes at UW-Rock County.
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Scott Schoonover, a former GM employee, takes a first glance at some handouts in his intro to welding class at Blackhawk Technical college. Schoonover is working for a one-year certificate in the industrial maintenance program there.
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Gregg Cisneros was laid of from GM in Janesville in Aug. of 2008. Cisneros will graduate from BTC in May with a degree in Police Science.
JANESVILLE — Ray Tadd Huntoon was a straight-A student at UW-Rock County until hunting season. Then he though it was important to spend two weeks with his 12-year-old son, a first-time hunter, and he fell behind in his schoolwork.
Still, Huntoon hopes to earn a 3.8 grade-point average this semester and transfer to UW-Whitewater. The 37-year-old has come a long way in the past year. He is moving toward a new career and spends more time with his family.
Just before Christmas 2008, Huntoon was laid off as a supervisor at Lear Corp., which made seats for vehicles produced at Janesville’s General Motors plant. When the GM plant closed, so did Lear, leaving workers wondering what to do next.
Many, including Huntoon, decided to go to school under retraining programs for dislocated workers. Huntoon is earning a degree in supply chain management and hopes to be a warehouse supervisor. When he lost his job, many things went through his mind, including looking for another job. Instead, he decided a four-year degree would be his best ticket to a new life.
“I’m a firm believer you have to have a good attitude and be proactive,” he said. “A person can’t sit around and wait for something to come to them.”
College was not easy for the 1990 Parker High School graduate. At first, he was getting a D in economics. Then he kicked into high gear, took good notes in class and read them again when he got home. His grade climbed to an A-minus.
“At first, college is pretty frightening,” Huntoon said. “I had a fear I was going to fail. I was too old. I didn’t know if I would get the information … Now, I’m in the groove. It was a relief when I saw my report card. I said, ‘Yes, I can do this.’”
He does most of his studying at home in the recliner with the TV on low. Or he reads in the truck while waiting to pick up his 11-year-old daughter from school. He plans to live on money from his severance package when state unemployment benefits run out in 2010. In addition, he will apply for financial aid and scholarships to finish up his degree when funding from a federal retraining program runs out.
Huntoon is a different man than he was a year ago.
“Today I realize how much my family means,” he said. “I am making less than half of what I used to make. But they can keep the money. I haven’t been this happy in a long time.”
He used to work 11- to 12-hour shifts at Lear. Now, he spends more time with his kids, whose grades have gone up in the past year. He also plans to re-marry his ex-wife, Tammy. They live with Tammy’s parents in Janesville.
“For me, being laid off was a good thing,” Huntoon said. “Getting an education is something you do for yourself, and no one can take it away from you. If I have any advice for someone, it would be this: Don’t sit at home and dwell on what happened a year ago. The U.S. is huge, and there are many opportunities.
“People just have to go find them.”
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Enrollment at UW-Rock County is at a record high this fall at 1,167 students. The total is up 12 percent over 2008 and 31 percent from 2007. Some of the increase is from displaced workers.
Kristin Fillhouer, assistant dean of student services, said the bigger increase is in traditional-age students coming right out of high school. Many have parents, who were affected by the GM shutdown. With the lowest tuition in the UW System, UW-Rock County is the most affordable option to get started on a bachelor’s degree, she said.
Blackhawk Technical College also is feeling the demand for retraining. The school has seen a 37 percent increase in full-time enrollment and a 17 percent jump in the head count from December 2008. As of earlier this month, 954 students were enrolled under the dislocated workers and/or the federal Trade Adjustment Act retraining programs. The five programs to see the greatest jumps in enrollments are nursing, information technology, business management, medical administrative specialist and accounting.
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At age 50, Scott Schoonover is a new graduate.
He just wrapped up his one-year diploma in the industrial maintenance program at Blackhawk Technical College and is hoping for full-time work soon. Schoonover got laid off from the Janesville GM plant in July 2008 after more than 11 years with the company.
The first thing he and his wife, Julie, did was sit down and examine their finances.
“We funneled down the family budget to the point of need, not want,” Schoonover said.
“We got rid of all the extra stuff.”
Their biggest concern was health insurance because 50-year-old Scott had a heart attack at 35, had surgery for colitis and has diabetes. In addition, his teenage children, Zachary and Emily, have special needs.
With his seniority, Schoonover had 25 months of health and dental insurance with GM. But he knew he needed to be working before his insurance expired, so he chose a one-year program.
Returning to school was a family affair.
“When I took introductory math, my kids, wife and classmates helped me through it,” Schoonover said. “It’s amazing. When Dad goes back to school, the whole family goes back to school.”
The GM tuition-assistance program paid for some of his tuition. The dislocated workers program paid for the rest as well as books and tools he needed for classes. His family and he are living on state unemployment and GM supplemental benefits. In addition, his wife works at Walmart. Schoonover has applied for a retirement program from the company. The amount he could receive, combined with whatever he earns on a new job, would just about equal what he used to earn at GM.
For Schoonover, money was not the only thing to consider.
“I had the chance to put in for a transfer, but my wife and I chose not to,” he said. “Our biggest concern was the health and well-being of our children. The school system is phenomenal. We decided we were in the right place for our children’s future. They also have both sets of grandparents. We did not want to take them away from that.”
In the last year, Schoonover said he has gained “spiritual common sense.” He believes he has grown closer to his family. And he feels gratitude for the strengthening of family ties.
“The children have become entrepreneurs,” he said. “We restored a used John Deere tractor, and now Zach plows snow from driveways, while Emily shovels sidewalks.”
Schoonover believes his life is better today than a year ago.
“I am glad about the way we all adjusted,” he said.
“We just take it one day at a time.”
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Lori Randall of Milton found her way back to an old employer after getting laid off from GM. She had worked on the assembly line nine years when she lost her job in June 2008.
“It was chaotic at the end,” she said. “There were tears. A lot of people were really upset. I walked out and did not look back.”
She did not feel emotional about the closing until she returned to the vacant plant to file her buyout papers.
“Seeing the plant all empty got me more choked up than my last night there,” she said.
She decided to attend Blackhawk Technical College. She was taking general courses and hoped to get into the physical therapist assistant program. But because of a long waiting list, she could not get into her core classes right away.
“Realistically, it probably would have been fall 2011,” the 45-year-old said. “Then I would have had two more years of school. It’s probably a better decision for a person my age to get a job and have insurance again.”
Randall applied for a job as a customer service associate at Anchor Bank and started work Aug. 31.
“I feel more at ease about my future since going back to work,” Randall said. “I’m not real big on change, so this is better for me.”
She had worked at Anchor Bank for five years before GM hired her.
Randall has taken a pay cut but has health insurance and a retirement plan. She enjoys being with co-workers again and doing charity for such efforts as Toys for Tots and United Way.
“I’m doing what I can,” she said, “because I know there are people definitely worse off than I am.”
Randall added:
“I like having a place to go everyday. I like knowing what I am going to be doing when I get there.”
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The Janesville GM plant hired Gregg Cisneros at 19 to work on the line. He chose the same company where his father had worked in the skilled trades for 33 years.
But Cisneros was different.
“I always told myself I wasn’t going to spend 30 years there,” he said. “I was going to use it as a stepping stone.”
He did not want to spend 20 years chasing the line. Then before he knew it, he was raising a family and continued to work.
Cisneros appreciates the good living the plant gave him. But when he walked out for the last time at 3:48 p.m. Aug. 8, 2008, he already had started a new life.
In 2005, Cisneros started taking one class a semester at Blackhawk Technical College. He could not take more because he was working 50 hours a week, was divorced and had four young children. When he got laid off, he never considered transferring to another plant. Instead, he became a full-time student 10 days later. He is looking forward to graduating in May from the criminal justice program.
The transition to school came easily.
“I saw many familiar faces while walking the halls,” he said.
Academically, he did fine, as well. He made the president’s list the first semester and never had trouble with schoolwork.
Cisneros is grateful for the displaced worker program, which helped him pay for books and tuition, and GM’s generous benefit pay. He hopes to find a career in law enforcement, specifically with a municipal police department. If he does not find a job, he will return to Blackhawk and go to the police academy. He knows he will not earn what he did at the plant.
“So many things are more important than making a good wage, like believing in your own fortitude and being grateful for all of the forgotten blessings that we are given,” Cisneros said. “It’s a trade-off. I’m getting a career I really want. Instead of putting on the same part 550 to 600 times a day, five days a week, 10 hours a day, I actually have a profession. There’s a little uncertainty because I am still not working.”
Cisneros, 34, said he misses “all of the good people I used to work with. I considered them my family away from family. I do get nostalgic at times.
“But there is life after GM after all.”
Mar 1, 2010 at 11:50 a.m.
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I don't live in Janesville or expect that city to fund me for going to school. Though something Federal would be welcome. Better student loans, perhaps. I'm willing to pay back what I need, but the government seems to think all I need is a few hundred bucks in a grant. Had I been another nationality, or had children, or... well, you get the idea. Kids just out of high school are getting better advantages than I and others in the same situations as far as financial opportunities. I'm a 48yo dropout LOL but I'm getting straight A's thus far and pray my health holds up in order to finish. It has been and will continue to be, for me, an uphill battle all the way.
Mar 1, 2010 at 9:55 a.m.
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Yeah, I put in 15 years and struggle. A tough thing to do is to attend college full time when there is little funds to do so. If I continue this track, I may be homeless VERY fast, but I've little choice. I'm signing up for food stamps, preparing to sleep out of a vehicle and doing any/all odd jobs I can find in order to go to school. Some of us are not getting any help from anywhere, but we're trying very hard.
Dec 28, 2009 at 12:51 p.m.
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Sounds like our country is being renamed from United States to Unemployed States.
Dec 28, 2009 at 11:54 a.m.
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Find out how much you can work part-time and still get UE.
Dec 28, 2009 at 11:52 a.m.
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1. File for UE ASAP (don't wait to long) and don't lose hope and do not panic; many people are in the same situation like you.
2. Find out when health and dental insurance ends; seek Badger care options
3. 4o1 (k)-Do you have money in there? What do you plan to do with it? Roll it over? Cash it out?
4. Start talking to folks who might be good references
5. If you have lots of big bills (credit cards etc, call companies to see if you can work out different payment plans.
6. Start looking for an occupation that you have been thinking about for a while
If you hated what you were doing do not go back and do the same thing unless you have a job offer right away and need money right away.
Dec 28, 2009 at 11:16 a.m.
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I am currently putting my last day in at my job. I am unfortunatly being laid off after today. Is there a program out there for me, even though I didn't work at those big companies???? I don't know what to do, I don't know if I can even collect unemployment with only working part time. What is out there for the individual who did not work for these big companies???
Dec 26, 2009 at 3:28 a.m.
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"but if a person happens to have to pay for schooling for a new occupation out of their own pocket"
Most people borrow money through student loans. When you graduate, you usually start paying on the loan 6 months after you graduate. You can deduct the interest you pay on your loans each year.
Dec 26, 2009 at 3:01 a.m.
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Last sentence: NOT BE ABLE TO..
Dec 26, 2009 at 2:59 a.m.
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Some in the community still do not realize the whole picture. This story is about GM, next it will be other companies of U.S. origin; end result: their demise. The United States will become a country of just workers dictated to by foreign owned companies, not my father’s or grandfather’s country. While furthering one’s education is a good thing, keep in mind the lower paid job you leave after your education is complete the spot you vacate will have to be done by someone, and they have to provide for their families. I think the U.S. seems to be moving in the direction to the extent that if you are not a doctor, lawyer, actor, sports figure, or news broadcaster you cannot or will be able to live decently and provide for your family.
Dec 24, 2009 at 4:44 p.m.
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Yes, truth1, things have changed in the last 23 YEARS. Sheesh.
Dec 24, 2009 at 9:46 a.m.
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For most people, any money you spend on education will repay you many times over once you gain a new career. Plus, money is not the only way to measure one's gain from further schooling.
Dec 24, 2009 at 9:29 a.m.
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zoom- I'm talking *state* income taxes, I don't know about federal.......Things may have changed, but I know from personal experience that schooling for a new occupation couldn't be deducted from your state income tax in 1986 and whatever "credit" that is, I wasn't eligible for that either and neither were thousands of others.
Dec 24, 2009 at 7:09 a.m.
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Ozzman99, Your right, just having an education or trained skill will mean nothing in today’s times. People will have to get up and fill out some apps, maybe several, and be willing to deal with a pay cut! However if a persons only skill is screwing a GM emblem on a new Tahoe, options are slim to none there too. Therefore, if GM is giving people 2 years to learn a new skill, while sitting at home, you’re foolish for not taking that chance. Instead, some are just sitting at home praying that GM comes back to Janesville. Does that sound like a good plan???
Dec 24, 2009 at 4:33 a.m.
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ALL THE EDUCATION IN THE WORLD MEANS NOTHING WITHOUT EMPLOYERS TO HIRE YOU!! Im sick of these college ads trying to convince people that if they only had a bachelors degree jobs will fall out of the sky for them. Its false hope with a huge price tag.
Dec 23, 2009 at 11:43 p.m.
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truth1 (ironic, since you comment is false), you may be able to receive a tax CREDIT (better than a deduction) for educational expenses.
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0...
Dec 23, 2009 at 7:37 p.m.
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Been paying income taxes for programs like these for 25 years. Now my hard work is paying off with schooling being paid for. People been living of my work for years, now I finally get to collect some of it back. I was put into unemployment beyond my control, and now I am happy to be able to take advantage of programs I help pay for, and don't feel guilty about it in the least. I put myself in a situation where I had more than one option to protect my family's future. How many of you do?
Dec 23, 2009 at 7:22 p.m.
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For those that are not in the loop, the Dislocated Worker Program is NOT just for GM people. When I went for my initial meeting there were people there from other companies, even a couple girls from Chicago who had recently moved to Beloit. So this benefit is for many, not just a select few, like many of you think. For the poor guy who lost his $15 an hour job, if you did a little looking into it yourself, you would have realized this benefit is for you too. But I guess you had better things to do instead of trying to do something to better yourself. Also GM was paying for our schooling up until June 1 2009, so it wasn't all paid for by the tax payer, the company paid for most of it. But I suppose we don't deserve that either, right?
Dec 23, 2009 at 5:33 p.m.
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I feel like school is the only option and Im not sure why people are defending that. I mean yeah, people lose/lost jobs, GM is not the only place... everyone knows its a bad economy. You have no education, which was your choice back then, and you lost your job now. I dont know why people should really feel bad for this particular situation. Its on the individual to go out and do something about it... I dont feel bad at all. Things happen. Everybody has a story/excuse nowadays...
Dec 23, 2009 at 3:58 p.m.
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This is all fine and good, but if a person happens to have to pay for schooling for a new occupation out of their own pocket YOU CAN'T EVEN DEDUCT IT FROM YOUR INCOME TAXES......Seeing that thats the case, I'm going to assume these folks are going to pay income taxes on the value of the schooling they receive.
Dec 23, 2009 at 12:59 p.m.
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I just have to say that it was nice to see somebody I know. I moved out of the area last year. I am also going to school(all A`s). So yes I am one of the lucky ones to have the support of the TRA. However, the help I am recieving from the goverment cannot replace the loss I feel from not seeeing my family and friends. Anyway,congratulations to Tadd and everybody else who is studying hard to make a better life for themselves and their families.
Dec 23, 2009 at 11:58 a.m.
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I realize everyone is entitled to their opinions so here is mine: To all of you with the negative attitudes, please get a life. These GM and Lear people are furthering their education instead of taking the easy route and living on welfare.
Congrats to all of you for plunging back into college. You all inspired me to go back so now I work full-time and go to school full-time.
Best of luck to all and to all have a very Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!
Dec 23, 2009 at 11:50 a.m.
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Really, Hank? You cannot wait to read that someone's attempt to get back on his feet after loosing his job has failed?
I'm sure he wishes you a Merry Christmas, too.
Dec 23, 2009 at 11:10 a.m.
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well it's all about gm this gm that what about
the other guy who makes 15 an hour and gets
a big fat zero after getting layed off from
tayor so just deal with the real world
Dec 23, 2009 at 10:05 a.m.
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Just for note, TAA/TRA benefits and similar have been around for decades. My mother used a similar program back in the eighties. It's not as though they created these programs just for Lear workers. I look at it like this: I paid more than my share of taxes over the time I worked at Lear and long before. If someone is willing to make the effort to go through the steps for schooling, then all the better. Moreover, if they are pulling down good grades they deserve it even more. How many people have milked welfare training programs and failed courses on purpose just to continue getting benefits? I've heard more than my share of stories in that regard. Tad's doing well and making the best of an otherwise bad situation. I'm happy for him and his family.
Dec 23, 2009 at 9:35 a.m.
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Yeah... That will show us ungrateful residence of this community! Rise up GM employees...take a job elsewhere and leave the area I tell you... Like sad4you, but just make sure when your gone, keep tuning in to the Gazette and what us "ungrateful, angry, haters in this community" have to say! Good call!
Dec 23, 2009 at 8:56 a.m.
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I just wanted to congratulate Tadd, rather than post negativity like some of the above...
It feels good to do something on your own and excel.
I'm very happy for you and your family; and, there is no crime in having priorities and making your children one of them. So Kudos to you for taking time to take your boy hunting! In the end, all we have are memories...and the best way to leave a legacy and be remembered isn't going to be on your report card.
Congrats to you and Tammy on your renewed commitment.
Dec 23, 2009 at 8:36 a.m.
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I worked at Lear for years. Trust me you didn't have to be smart to work there.(Proved by the union reps).
Dec 23, 2009 at 7:50 a.m.
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just a word of warning. I was let go of my job in the summer of 2007 and had a difficult time finding a full-time job back then, with a decent wage and benefits. Oh and i already had a 4-year degree, and 3+ years experience in the work force. My GPA in college was above a 3.5 and graduated with High Honors.
Just know that a piece a paper does not mean you will get a job. Unfortunately many in this community do not pay for higher educated people either.
Just be warned.
Dec 23, 2009 at 7:19 a.m.
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Yes...the dislocated program is funded by taxpayers---however, these individuals paid a whole lot higher taxes than a $10 an hour person did! people....think about it!!! The Lear people got their "FREE" ride because the Company made a STUPID move!!! GMers just did what most would do, took what they could get, which GM gave them. The employees got lucky, that is all!! We left this community because all of the negative anamosity here! EVERYONE in Janesville should be thankful for the job they hold,or held, if not get off your butt and find a new one -oh,you can't there aren't any, because the biggest company left and took all jobs with it! It is sooo sad that people are not happy for others and the fact that they are trying to better their families- instead of being JEALOUS of it!! TO ALL DISLOCATED WORKERS; DISREGARD THE HATERS AND KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!! THEN LEAVE THAT UNGRATEFUL and ANGRY COMMUNITY!!! then they will really feel the impact! Thanks for all you and your companies DID do for the community when they were here!!!
Dec 23, 2009 at 3:42 a.m.
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Tough turn of events--congrats to all who have taken up the challenge and worked to change their lives and their family's lifestyle to accommodate this unfortunate circumstance for the area!
Dec 23, 2009 at 1:04 a.m.
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Wish GM or Lear would have hired me so I could have been given a nice silver platter. Why is it the people who couldn't live on $28 an hour need all the help in the world, but the people on $10-$15 an hour struggle with less but don't get an article in the paper?
Dec 23, 2009 at 12:34 a.m.
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please...enough already...these people worked at great paying choice benefit companies for years and now get to go back to school on everyone elses dime? what a crock...should have saved their own cash for the future like the rest of us have to...must be rough to have all that free time and extra money to go hunting with your kid
Dec 22, 2009 at 11:23 p.m.
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bla bla bla
Dec 22, 2009 at 10:35 p.m.
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Ray, Good Job! We are all digging in to build the perfect seat. :) Keep getting the A's like many of us are also doing. Thanks again for your good recommendation.
Dec 22, 2009 at 10:31 p.m.
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Good Job Scott! I am still practicing my Algebra at home ( for fun )although we all finished last Summer.
Dec 22, 2009 at 9:45 p.m.
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Some old habits are hard to break wasn't that a G. M Holiday Deer Hunting Season
Dec 22, 2009 at 9:22 p.m.
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puffer: all A's and B's....pretty sure he IS serious about his education. Chillax, buddy!
Dec 22, 2009 at 8:57 p.m.
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Getting laid off does put things into perspective. In Tad's case, I can see things have improved and he's better for it. I'm happy to hear that. Lear was many good things, but it did wreck a lot of families. Having just graduated, I can forewarn those who graduate that "The career path you've chosen," may not be available upon graduation. It's not as simple as getting a 2 or 4 year degree and a decent paying job lands at your feet. That said, if people are willing to look for work out of their field, out of their county, and possibly out of their state, for far less than they've made over the last 10-20 years there are opportunities out there. Everyone has to start somewhere. Eventually when the economy kicks back up, better paying jobs, promotions and more opportunities will become available.
Dec 22, 2009 at 8:03 p.m.
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why would you knock a guy who has gone back to school and is trying to make a tough situation better. so he took a couple of weeks off to spend time with his kid. I give him a lot of credit for trying to make a change.
Dec 22, 2009 at 7:21 p.m.
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Way to go Scott! When I met you all those years ago when Zach was 2 I knew you were a man who would always put your family first.
Keep your eye on the silver lining.
Dec 22, 2009 at 6:04 p.m.
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He doesn't care about the two weeks off because he's not paying for it. I'm suprised with all the "bashing" going on in these blogs he'd even open himself up by stating that he just blew school off.
There are a lot of people committed to getting an education and being employable. I wish them luck. I'm hoping the economy recovers soon too many are hurting.
Dec 22, 2009 at 5:41 p.m.
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We are proud of you Scott! Praying for only good things in the future!
Dec 22, 2009 at 5:17 p.m.
Dec 22, 2009 at 5 p.m.
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Two weeks off for hunting? I remember being in college and would have never considered taking that much time off. Get serious about your education.
Dec 22, 2009 at 4:27 p.m.
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good job Gregg---Just found the airbag picture you made the other day---Had a good look back on that---happy holidays!
Dec 22, 2009 at 4:16 p.m.
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Good job Tadd!!!!
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