"Lamesville, Pissconsin"
ROFLMFAO!!!
Couldn't have said it better.

Why do so many people think conventional educational schools are the answer when so many are failing to find work in the fields they've studied? We're in a completely different economy, yet people are still looking for answers in the teachings of the former economy. I don't understand that.

i agree with other posts...when everything else is hashed out Bring up GM and their workers..let it go already just like GM let Janesville GO....Stop with all the articles "Well Maybe If"..Move on get a job stop milking the system...Yadda Yadda Yadda. My daughter too was bumped from BTC because of the GM people taking advantage of the schooling and not finishing it..These are the next generation that need to support their families not sit on a waiting list for 2 years and feel like failures because they have to wait for adults to go through classes just to drop them because something else has come along. Get over it ALREADY...

shermanson good luck to your husband I hope his hard work pays off.

My husband was at GM 15 years, and took the opportunity to gain a new career. I will state openly this was not an easy decision. He decided to go to school full time, and reeducate himself. He started at UW Rock County and finished at Whitewater as a Safety Engineer. He worked 18 hours a day on school work for no pay. He is now in an internship and hopes to get an opportunity in his field. These decisions are decisions and each has it's own set of wins and losses. Choosing any job would have given him income over the last 3 years. It would have made those years easier. His choice was the long-term goal. I support it, and do support it. If anyone believes these choices are easy. Than it is clear they have never made them.

Hmmm, as usual, by the sounds of these many and varied posts, working at GM is just like real life! There were good workers, bad workers, workers who earned their pay, workers who didn't.
There are people who would never work at such a tedious, brainless job (but resent the worker's income), and people who would never work at such a tedious, brainless job (and so think the pay was justified).
There are those who are certain each worker was lazy, stupid, and usually drunk on the job, and those who realize all those vehicles would have never been built had each worker been lazy, stupid and usually drunk on the job.
There are people who realize the country needs people of many and varied abilities and employment desires, and there are those who think that any individual who is not employed in the same field they are (brain or brawn) are useless and certainly not worth what they themselves are worth.
One thing I've always wanted to know...is it just Janesville autoworkers who were shiftless, brainless, "I deserve it all" drunks, or is that a general G.M worker type, or the description of any autoworker?
Is it true what I've come to understand from some commenters in the past that if only GM executives were employed by the company (no laborers), better cars would be built, thereby causing the auto industry to rebound and bring the US back to financial stability? Actually, it seems from my reading that all underlings from any establishment should be abolished (or at least they should get no compensation), and only hierarchy deserve reward for their part.

oh, and I left a union job, making $4 more an hour, with perfect benefits, and I am Much happier. It wasn't about the money, or the benefits, it was about being treated right. The union did nothing for me, or a lot of people I worked with. In fact, they would stand up for people who were absolutely worthless. I enjoyed seeing my place of employment rid the union, but then again, that is what led to it's demise.

I am one of those Nursing students who was "bumped" or had to wait longer to get into the Nursing core classes until this upcoming fall. I did, however, not mind the wait. I worked full time in the evening, while taking part time classes during the day. Yes, they were long days, but well worth it. Now that the GM people have graduated, most of my classes are filled with the young people again. I'm not knocking the younger generation, but the GM people (most) actually brought something to the table, some life experience, and that is why they will be more successful. They had motivation to succeed in school. I am not saying that I agree their school should have been paid for, and they should have gotten full benefits, and not work..but it is what it is. They deserved some help because they worked for it! I deserve some help too, but because I WORKED for years, I "made too much money" and don't qualify for free money. But, if I would not be married, and have a kid..my life would be much easier. I could get everything free, help with rent, bills, food, and have an Iphone, get my nails done, and hair done on a regular basis. I find that rather disgusting. So, really, those people that are just skating by because they made their choices, get to use my tax paying money to get their degree. I guess the point I am trying to say is, at least the GM workers WORKED, and deserved the help. There is FAR too many people out there that get everything handed to them because they choose to make bad choices. I'm not saying this for those that are single, with children, that work hard and do what they can do to get through school. But don't have your hand out, and get to enjoy the lush life because of people like me that have to work hard so you don't have to!

Shopiere you continue to fit every stereotype I have ever heard thought or witnessed about GM workers, btw I have experience with that culture, worked there and have family retired from there. In fact my father retired early to avoid being lumped in with that group and to get away from it. Sad how a few can spoil the bunch. As far as your specifics about not being able to work at GM, I turned down a full time position twice, not because it was too hard, it was actually the easiest job I ever had, I was extremely bored, I read 3 newspapers and 3 magazines every night, I turned it down because the false sense of security just because the union told me I would have job security didn't register, instead I got a couple college degrees and have been able to market myself and decide where I want to work. I am not at the mercy of one corporation or union.

One more thing when my dad retired he looked for another job and was denied twice until ultimately getting hired. The reason for the previous denials? They had hired two retired GM guys previous and they were lazy and expected higher pay constantly. Not all GM guys have that attitude but unfortunately it is a culture that does exist within that group.

I commend all former GM employees that went out studied and acquired marketable skills to have the freedom of career and job options.

Feedback I heard from educators was how rude many GM employees were as well as how many wore their "YOU OWE ME" badge. Please note before anyone attacks me for this comment I said MANY, not ALL. It was not right nor was it fair for dislocated workers to get preferential treatment over other students. It all came down to how much money the schools could get from GM and how much the workers could stick it to GM.

" I bet if that plant came to life, all of you whiners would be first in line for jobs." -Clownpuncher @6:31pm

I don't think that very many of these hateful jealous types would be in line for the jobs. There are several reasons such as; they wouldn't be qualified, wouldn't be able to pass a preemployment test. They would not really want to work that hard. That type of work would be "above" them, they would rather stick their nose up in the air and complain about the dumb, overpaid GM workers. They are drug and alcohol addicts and would not be able to pass the tests. They would not be able to do the semi-skilled to skilled work, let alone the just plain manual labor.

No, I don't think they would stand in line for those jobs, it is much easier to bitch about someone else having more than them, never mind that they worked for it and made the deal with their employer for the wages and benefits. It is easier for these lower forms to tear someone else down than anything else. They will continue to do the same. The public workers are the current "lazy, overpaid, stupid, "GM" workers. Then when they are done with the public employees, they will move on to another group.

Steve, you mean my pre-GM training?? I developed my escape plan before the GM-Janesville ship sank. In this day and age, it's critical to be diigging the well before you're thirsty. I was one that hired in for the money and got out when I realized that it was "time" that was most important in life. Now I'm blessed enough to have both.

Steve, you should learn by now that no good deed goes unpunished. I for one had little sympathy for those put out of work by GM. But I applaud the topic because it sheds light on the fact that some people did move on and are working in careers that may be more satisfying, even if they may pay less.

Everyone suffered in recent economic times as wages have remained flat or declined except for those at the top of the pay scale.

Say what you want Roofrack. Birdman is absolutely right about preferential treatment to the ex GM employees. I went to school on my own money like many others did and was absolutely sickened to see those overpaid people bump others out of classes they needed to earn their degrees. You have to remember, the average non GM employee wasnt getting subpay along with maximum unemployment benefits to go along with an all expenses paid college ride.
I suppose in some peoples mind,those were earned benefits. But in reality, its just another example of the greed and self indulgence that was GM and many of its employees.
Unfortunately, we all have to pay for it in the end and I believe a society which values the almighty dollar instead of what is just and fair is a society that is in big trouble.

I hope they all took advantage of the education program. I would have liked someone to pay for my college education. Nope I worked 2 jobs to pay tuition and books, and still maintained on the Dean's list every semester. My problem is with the people that got the education that later ditched it to go back to mindless assembly work at Chrysler. They should be made to payback the money to the state just like the students who have to take out student loans. Not only was the education a waste, they are now working out of state.

I know plenty of people that took advantage of the benefits and turned them into new careers. I personally did not take the state benefits, as General Motors was still paying my schooling in full through the tuition assistance program. People I know did not just use the system to prolong benefits. My stepfather is one. He went through the program and was retrained and now has a marketable skill. He currently works in Madison and loves the new job.
I know several others that are active with new businesses that benefitted from the retraining. They were able to retrain, gain new careers, with less upheaval to their families than if they had transferred.
I do not personally know of anyone that used the program to prolong benefits, and has not pursued thier new career.

woody- you notice this too- sidewalks- cannot ever approve or disprove and only so much news in Walworth country in the Janesville Gazette- I mean Gazette.
Maybe it is time to bring up a museum again!?

Can we retrain the gazette people to stop writing about gm because they don't have anything better to do? Please, move on!

I guess since ice arena is in the paper AND sidewalks we must bring up poor GM again.

neweyes: The schooling benefit stood on it`s own, and did not affect any other benefits. Your statement is very weak indeed, and the criticism is way offbase.

In the course of my work I came across a few people enrolled in the retraining program; they admitted they were taking courses they had no intention of making into a new profession, but only to keep the benefits flowing.

I had the good fortune of having several folks who used to work at GM as students at UW-Rock. I found them to be diligent, hard working, and generally excellent students. I felt a little of a kinship to them because besides being close in age, I feel had some decisions of my own been made slightly different I could easily have ended up in the very tight spot many of them found themselves in. Who knows I still could find myself in their shoes someday. I wish I knew where they all landed but I hope the landing was soft and in a better place than GM.

Somebody call whine-1-1! Birdman needs a whaaaambulance!

I sure hope the retraining paid off...that the former GMs are making use of the opportunity.
. . .
Having been granted preferential enrollment status at Blackhawk Tech, at least in some fields of study, GMs bumped kids like my niece who had already been enrolled in, for example, nursing.
. . .
Instead of being able to continue in uninterrupted sequence of classes, my niece was bumped from prerequisite instruction which was offered just once a year. So, good ol’ boys from GM effectively put her life on “Hold” for a year so they could receive special treatment...what’s new...to take their classes.
. . .
Those kids who had to mark time thanks to the GMs have lives every bit as important as those whose jobs went away in the factory. Once again the all powerful Muscle of the Big Unions exerted undue influence.
. . .
I shall remember this fact when the Recall election comes around.

I was able to take advantage of some of the training options. I earned an associate degree, which coupled with my skilled trades training,pushed me to the front of an interview I had with a company that I currently work for here in the state. I have a commute now, but forty five minutes is not too bad.
I was able to stay in Wisconsin and continue to work in my field. My pay and benefits with the newer company, while being less than General Motors, are much better than average for my skill level.
I greatly appreciate all of my education that I obtained through UW Rock County and Blackhawk Technical College, all of it paid for by General Motors. This education has provided me the ability to live where I choose, and command a very decent rate of pay and benefits.
I guess I would offer my thanks to General Motors, the United Auto Workers Local 95, UW Rock County and Blackhawk Technical College as they all played a big part in my education and career.