I remember the movie by mike moore called rodger, and me. I wonder how many GM Janesville work sent aid to help the poor people of flint when that happened. I bet zero dollars.

Rent that movie GM workers because you will see the same sign that those people did leading up to that day!

diamondback-concerning GM workers-you're not the exception-you're the rule-and you do rule! You do deserve everything (good) that you get from the company. I also know many from GM that, like you, give back for the good of others because they do know how good they have it. Some of these who try to tear down the reputation and morale of those like you, are, for some reason, obviously envious that you actually DO deserve and get the good pay and benefits you've stayed so long at GM for.

t3268-As I said you are living by rumors !! As I have said ...I'm 59 years old.... When we bought our home we did the smart thing and took a 15 year mortgage..I give 1 weeks pay to United Way in Nov. I give to Echo,the childrens fund,Toys 4 tots etc..... My truck(JANESVILLE BUILT) cost MORE than my first and only house !!! I don't live in a McManison (920sq.ft.) oh yes we raised 5 boys in this house..Do I think GM owes me anything ??? Not anything that I have not WORKED for. So you see your theory on the average GM worker is based on rumors and hatred.. Oh by the way I also work/know quite a few others that give a lot back also !!!!

DIAMONDBACK-
Check your facts. I am saying what I have heard. Never did i say it was fact. You talk about bennies . This is what has started all this layoff and down sizing If you work at GM do you think anyone woking on the line down there should make more than a college educated professional? Why do you think GM owes people this huge salary? why if you work down there dont most of the people that build this truck buy the trucks, probably the same reason others are not they can not afford them because GM is paying the huge salary and bennies to the work force. I feel for the people at the plant loosing their jobs but, alot of it was brought on by the people at the plant wanting every thing and not wanting to give back to their employer. they think they are owed something.

t3268-I can tell you that the state of wisconsin HASN'T extended our UEC ...We like everyone eles get 26 weeks !! When/if our UEC runs out ,yes we get SUB PAY !That comes thru a benny that WE fought for on a contract !!!! Most people believe all the stories/rumors that they hear...Lets get the facts straight and stop living /believing rumors !!

Localboy-
I have lived here my entire life and understand like I said Gm is a good employer. But not everyone living in Janesville works for GM. Why do they get all the extras when they are laid off? I am not say the extras from GM but like years ago when GM had people laid off and were running out of unemploymnet benifits, The state came and extended their benifits . I am sure others in the same situation would also like to get their benifits from the state extended but that will not happen. That is all I am saying in my comments , Janesville has other fine employers that also help with the tax base as you stated.Just seems all the people in elected office want to talk about and get things for GM employees.

The big three should start at 12.00 hr 1 week vacation after 2 years one half of insurance thats plenty to live on .

justreading-After having worries and sleepless nights for YEARS about all the RUMORS,GLOOM ETC... I DON'T think we will see 2nd shift gone !Why do I say this ??Because this will be the ONLY way for GM to get the 2-tier pay into the plants.They did the same thing back in the 80's,told workers take the transfer and you will have a job working for GM,don't and you are done... Well we all know what happen there ..over 1500 people were hire at this plant to take their places...One more thing on this is the new hires !! They will get hired in at $14.00/hr NO bennies for 3 years IF they want a penison they will have to put their own money into a 401k,GM will give them $1.00 for every hour they work !!!(about $2200./year) When all said and done new hires will (if lucky) make $8.00 /hr...

I said Diamondback that is was my understanding . . . I had heard this from a wife of a GM worker and from an employee of Lear who was getting laid off in July. So as I had stated, this was only from my understanding, I didn't state that it was a fact. Sorry didn't mean to get you or anyone so upset. My apologies.

justreading---Lets do facts and not RUMORS !!! I put up a web site the other day www.doleta.gov Lear workers WILL get 2 years of schooling,2 years of UCE,18 months of health care(same as GM).Lear HASN'T told the state about about their lay offs.IF you go to the web site you will see that the state has helped A LOT of displaced workers !!! Remember when Kmart closed most of their stores the state helped them !!! This goes for ALL companies with big lay offs in the state of Wisconsin !!! Not just GM !

Every state gets their money somehow. They just charge more for sales tax, license fees, etc. Unless it is Louisiana, and then they just let the place rot.
billnewbie: Suck it up. You don't pay that much in taxes. The people of Chicago have to pay state income tax and sales tax over 8%.

why don't you read the rest billnewbie - yes tx and fl have no state income tax, so obviously they are going to come out at the low end, but they get your money in other ways!! this is the last i am going to comment on this stupid issue.

The following link shows that Wisconsin is ranked 7 for total tax burden and Texas ranked 43. This seems a significant difference to me.
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/pf/0...

Texas may not have a state income tax, but they get your money in other ways billnewbie! We have a 5.5% tax on food and products, while Tx has over an 8% tax just to name one. Lived there and believe me it wasn't cheap. My car insurance was triple of what I pay here . . . While I feel terrible and saddened about what is going on with GM, it is Lear and some of the other companies that I really feel sorry for. From my understanding GM employees will get 90% of their income paid for as well as their health insurance for the next two years, but Lear employees losing their jobs won't. Also has GM looked at the price of gas, who can afford those prices along with a hefty SUV payment, even the gas economy SUV's that GM has put are over 50 grand. There are not many people who can afford that. Put the blame on the big honchos in GM and not on the taxes in WI or even yet on the oil and gas companies that are running us all dry with their costs! I had a surburban (loved it) but had to get rid of it - my gas bills were higher than my car payments.

Localboy hit the nail on the head. Wisconsin has, and has had for decades, nearly the highest taxes in the country. During that time, Janesville's GM plant has decreased production and employment nearly continually. When you compare Wisconsin's Tax burden with that of Texas, it's easy to see why GM wants to build more SUV's there than here. Our Governor has no interest in lower taxes, as he wants to raise spending. Look at the Governor's reaction to the deficit the state faces, more taxes and raids on the transportation trust fund. If he manages to "fix" health care, GM won't be the only employer pulling out of Wisconsin.

t3268 - the reason you hear so much about GM is the law of economics. I am sure that GM was responsible as a contributor to the largest share of the tax base, so that is why you hear so much about them. Less than 15 years ago, they employed more than 7,000 workers. 10 years ago, more than 5,500 workers. How could you not hear about GM?
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I have posted several times that our state has a flawed economic strategy. Every one of us has to contact their state representative to ask them what do they plan to do to save Wisconsin? I didn't just have a epiphany, I have been worried about it for many years. Again, just look at Wisconsin's Workforce Development website and then compare it to Alabama's(example) website. We are being left in the dust. Wake up Doyle, and wake up state of Wisconsin!

Janesville does have other news , It has always been GM . I understand GM is a good employer. But maybe now people like Mr. Sheridan will work for the rest of us that live and work in Janesville not just the GM people. I pay taxes and live in Janesville also. But for years have only heard about GM . What about Rath, Prent Hufcorand many other employers in this city

shyflower~
You really hit the nail right on the head with your post. We live in an individualistic society where our generations have grown up with a "me-me" mentality. It's been taught from generation to generation. Every generation coming up loses more and more focus on the "community" and puts more and more of it on themselves. People have lost sight of what's important and feel there's no place they can turn. Fact is, there is a place they can turn....it's called our HISTORY! We've ignored the past rather than learn from it. When that happens, every time there is change, people aren't equipped to handle it. It's called CHAOS! We are desperately lacking leadership in our society to help guide people where they need to go. Where they need to go isn't necessarily where they may want to go, but, in reality, it's where they must go to succeed. As for me, I can see the beacon of light that's guiding me, so it's onward through the fog! God's blessings to all the workers and their families as the future onfolds.

Sure wish our great and great-great grandparents were still around to educate us on how to live thru a depression. It's surley where we are headed, and we are surely unprepared. What I do know for a fact is that at times like these we need to let go of our selfishness and greed, and understand that the act of helping our 'neighbors' will bring life's rewards in tenfolds.

I understand why this is news...It's my understanding that the drivers were told over a month(maybe 2) ago that they wouldn't have jobs after sub-assemlby was moved in July.It is also my understanding it will save GM $70,000.00 a month by not using LSI drivers. I had not heard anything about the office-phones.

a job search where? not in the state of wisconsin, if you truly want a job you will have to move out of the usa , thats where most of the products we use are made, now is the time for wisconsin to get rid of illegal immigrants , and let the true tax payers make a living

Unfortunately, it's part of the cycle. As more and more companies outsource, or as we continue to import oil instead of using our own, more and more people are going to have at least one job loss. It's a shame that we, as a country, have become SO reliant of the vehicle!

It's a shame that this happens, I feel for the employees, whether they were laid off or not. If anyone's interested, there's always helped needed working for people that are elderly or disabled. Look up any of the companies, they'll like having more quality employees.

We can thank the UAW for sucking the the life out of a company thats supported thousands of families for decades. Where will the union be when the unemployed GM worker is in the unemployment line.. I know he won't be standing behind him/ her.

This must be the beginning of the "big sucking sound" that Ross Perot was talking about back in 1992.

Cool more rummage sales!!

Will Doyle give these employees the fast track to unemployment help?

Welcome to the Rust Belt.

This is what i was talking about.Only a matter of time before SSI an Lear will layoff to.

Here starts the big storm everyone has been talking about. Well by, by.