On Share memories of GM in Janesville

Posted on December 16 at 7:02 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

August 16,1976 I began a pretty good ride with G.M. I too knew Marv.W. , also Ray.W, Herb S., George S. and a few others scattered throughout the plant.. If it wasn't for some of these people (and i say this carefully) some of us wouldn't have made it at the plant...I can clearly remember one of my bosses Ray and one of my "superintendents" Gene..Ray worked with me dilligently, so i could "get the hang of doing my job", but i wasn't cutting the mustard, and i was moved to hard-trim...I was introduced to my immediate boss Phil, and my "super", Gene, and was told that i was literally on "black and white" for being out the door," which came as a bit of a suprise to me.. I asked both my boss, Phil, and my "super, Gene", just exactly how much of a say so i had in the job that i was being assigned to... Well you could've knocked me over with a feather when my -super-Gene said , "Don't put anything on that car that you wouldn't want on the car if you were buying that car." Well that gave me a pretty good foundation for the rest of my time with G.M. I've met a lot of people from the plants I've worked at, and i find that most "advisors", will listen to you so long as you don't greet them with biting their heads off...Unfortunately my time with G.M. was cut short, due to major medical problems, one being a heart-attack, and mixed with the rest of the smorgasboard of "stuff", i was put out on T.P.D. It seems that i pushed my body basically beyond it's limits and i pay the price now, but would i have changed how i worked?---Nope, not on your nellie!!!! I've been through , layoff's, shut down for retooling, gutting one side, and wondering how we were gonna make ends meet, but somehow we managed, even with children in diapers, and we were out for 22-1/2 months, we did what was necessary, to keep a roof over our heads, heat in the house, food on the table, and clothes on our children, and we learned to "DO WITHOUT"!!!!!! I have the utmost respect for the employees facing "the end of the line" there in my Home Plant, Janesville.....I sincerely hope and pray, that G.M. may come up with a new product for that plant, cause the people there, have a high value for the quality that goes into each and ever vehicle that rolls off the end of the line....MY sincerest , and heart-felt hopes and prayers are with each and every employee there.. Best wishes, and the Best of Luck ......